So I went out to our brand new truck and turned the key and TA
-DA!
Nothing.
Panic rose in my throat.
I did it again.
Silence.
As the panic started slowly working its way through my body
I turned and who is looking in my window? Just Horns. The panic started to abate as I stumbled out
of the car and repeated to him over and over “she’s not working”. Before I knew
it Horns, Ninjet, Tran, and Sherlock were all over the truck.
I mean it, ALL OVER HER. In, out, and, finally under. All of
them talking and mumbling to each other in some sort of car language that I couldn’t
understand.
It was then that he problem was identified.
Someone had stolen the starter from the truck. Someone had laid
under the truck and taken it.
When Ninjet first told me I panicked. I remember backing up and
not knowing why. I was so confused that my head was whirling. The only thing
that kept replaying in my mind was the time that I was shot at in Florida. They
were coming back. I was stranded and they were coming.
Just so that you
know, it made no more sense to me at that moment then it does now.
It just was an “is”. No explanation.
I remember Ninjet holding me in her arms. I remember D and E
standing right there. I remember Sherlock
giving me his card and telling me to
call him if I needed to get back
and forth. I remember Zoe taking me by the hand, and Connyfornia coming out to
make sure everything was OK.
I had a plan right away, call AAA, and get towed to CarMax
where I bought her. Vlad offered up his apartment for the night, and offered to
drive me to the apartment that night and to work the next morning. J&L
called and offered rides. Zoe offered to take me home.
It was so much. I kept going from being completely OK to
falling apart and crying. The memories of gunshots dogging the voices of the
now. Then someone slipped something into my hand, I looked down. It was a
card. A credit card. I remember a voice saying
“it should cover the bulk of the cost of the part.” I remember trying to give
it back and the person not taking it. I remember thinking “this isn’t right. I have
to give it back.” But not being able to. I remember saying thank you and
feeling like it couldn’t possibly be enough to say thank you.
It was then that the whole Cadre of community, Horns, Tran,
Sherlock, and D put the truck into neutral and pushed it to a place where it
could get towed. I was in utter AWE and shock.
When I called the tow company D&E stayed out to wait for
the truck as Zoe took me inside. Ninjet stayed at my feet, Vlad got me something
to drink.
I was dazed and confused and triggered. I couldn’t focus. Connyfornia
stayed close, and so did Vlad. I just kept thinking if I don’t move soon they
are coming, and they are coming with their guns.
I tried to talk, say something that would take the attention
of the fact that I was being so irrational.
So the three of us, I, Ninjet, and Zoe tried coming up with theories as
to why the starter was taken. I said that a
blind amputee grandmother needed a starter so that she could go and teach
the young orphan children how
to read. Ninjet had seen people take
stuff before and her philosophy was that they must have needed it real bad. She tried so hard to comfort me. As did Zoe, as she kept one hand on my leg
and one on my back.
When the tow truck came, about 30 minute later they took the
truck and I had to ride with them. I stayed at Vlad's over night and appeared on
my first day a little worn, but showered and teeth brushed.
Throughout the day
I found that the theft was not covered by warranty, and the insurance company wanted
500$ for it, which was our deductible. That, however didn’t matter because we didn’t
have 500$ anyway.
So all day Tran worked
his ass off to find my truck a new starter.
Ninjet offered to put it on after she got off work, and with
the credit card gift, the part was completely affordable.
After work I met them at CarMax again thanks to Vlad getting
me there, and within minutes the truck was up and running and purring like a
kitten.
I offered to pay them both, they refused. I gave then what I
had, my hugs and love.
And I got to go home.
I got to hug and kiss my wife. I got to sleep beside her and
snuggle up next to her in my sleep.
I got to pet the pups, and feed the horses. I got to sit on
the couch as the cats all clamored for the best spot to lie on my body.
I got to go home.
I have no words that could possibly convey the gratitude,
love an overwhelming amount of support that I feel.
You “Cadre of Community” have closed the chapter in my life where my
slave and I faced mountains alone.
I can never again say that we are by ourselves out here. What you did, all of you, will be in my heart
forever.
All my love and hugs,
K
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