| sammyg2 |
06-08-2017 01:36 PM |
Can't resist:
Quote:
I used to work down the street from Norwalk hospital, one of the largest psychiatric facilities in the state. It is enclosed by an 8' high chain link fence and topped with barbed wire, it was a huge campus. Many of the patients were allowed outside privileges and were allowed to be outside, under trees and free to use the picnic benches or just to wonder around.
Even though it was fenced, I still thought it was pretty spooky.
Late one afternoon I was driving down the western side of the hospital and had a flat tire. Norwalk Boulevard is a large, 4-lane surface street with just enough room to park a car on each side of the road.
I pulled to the curb, waited for the traffic to thin and got out of the car. My left rear tire was flat.
It was going to be an anxious operation with my back turned to the traffic, and it was compounded by one of the patients walking around and preaching to the birds - weird even.
I got the jack and the spare out of the back and popped the hubcap. I put the lug nuts into the hubcap to keep them all together and jacked up the car.
Just as I had done that, I heard a voice say, "What'cha doin' mister?" I looked up and this guy in gray shirt and pants was kind of hanging on the fence and looking at me - obviously one of the patients with his eyes wide open and sort of slack-jawed.
I told him, "Ummm, I'm changing a tire", trying not to look at him too closely.
He then asked, "Mister, why are you changing your tire?"
"Because it's flat, that's why. Don't bother me," I snapped.
"OK".
The afternoon traffic had started building, and like most California traffic, the posted 45 MPH speed limit kept the traffic down to about 55 MPH.
I removed the tire and, as my Dad had taught me, placed the flat tire under the middle part of the car in case the jack failed. I wheeled the spare around and had just mounted it when a large truck honked it's air-horn and passed so close to me that not only could I feel the air pressure, but I saw the side view mirror go by just inches over my head.
In addition to nearly scaring the psis out of me, the suction of the truck captured my hubcap in its wake and scattered the lug nuts everywhere.
When my heart quit beating like it was going to jump out of my chest, I went looking for the hub cap and the lug nuts. I found the hubcap about a quarter of a mile down the road, but not a single lug nut.
I walked back to the car, trying to think of the best way to get some help - remember, this was back before cell phones. I tried to remember if there was a full service gas station around, and where it was. I was also trying to remember if there was a telephone booth close. I must have been muttering some choice words, because the man behind the fence asked, "What's the matter, mister. You're using a lot of naughty words."
Almost blowing my cork, and with smoke coming out of my ears, I started to answer in a not pleasant manner. Somehow I contained my hot temper. After all, it wasn't his fault, and I explained what happened.
He said, "Well, mister, that doesn't seem too much of a problem". I was flabbergasted and thought, "I know why this guy is in the hospital, he doesn't have a single touch with really".
I answered, rather sarcastically, "Oh really. Just how would you solve this problem"?
He asked, "Do you have a lug nut or butterfly nut to keep your spare in place"?
I answered, "Of course, but what has that got to do with anything", so he explained.
"Take one lug nut off of each tire and use the butterfly to tighten on another post. That way, you'll have four nuts on each tire, and if you drive slow, you can get to a gas station and I bet you could buy a set of lug nuts from them."
My eyes snapped wide open, and I said, "That's brilliant. You're too smart to be in the hospital. Can I tell someone how smart you are and maybe get you out of the hospital?"
"Nope", he said. "I really am crazy, but I'm not Stupid!"
|
Yes I worked down the street from Norwalk hospital, but no that didn't really happen to me. Good story tho ....... |
