Chapter 3
…. small vibration noise and my truck started to pull slightly to the right. I let off the gas pedal a little and tried to pinpoint where the sound was coming from, but really it wasn't all that loud so I thought maybe I can just make it to this little town and check things over at the gas station. But then I thought about what my dad always had told me. If you run into problems, address them right away before that problem becomes a danger. Again I halfway smiled and knew he was right. As soon as I found a spot to pull over, I did and jumped out and went to the passenger sides front tire thinking all along that it must either going flat or it was low of air. To my surprise it wasn't, so the next thing I thought was that maybe it was a possible wheel bearing going bad. I reached down and slightly touched the hub but again to my surprise it wasn't hot hmmm…. I kind of shrugged my shoulders then looked under the truck for something wrapped up under there, but not a thing. I walked around the truck and then crawled back inside thinking, this was weird. I sure was happy that at least to my knowledge nothing was wrong. I turned the key and at the same time reached up to the dash and gave her a tap and said, “Good girl Helen. I know you will get me there safe.” I love this old truck, she was a nineteen sixty-nine GMC, three quarter ton with a four on the floor and posy traction. I had traded my Uncle a riding lawnmower during my Sophomore year in high school. It was one of the proudest moments I had because it was my first truck. Even though she was rough around the edges she was all mine. I named her Helen after my High school librarian. I guess I always liked her because she always was kind to me, so it only seemed fitting. Anyway, as I pulled back onto the highway and got up to speed my truck didn't seem to pull right anymore and I couldn't hear any noise or feel any vibration. Again, I reached up and even winked as I tapped on the dash and said, “That's my girl.” I honestly laughed out loud because deep down I thought if someone knew I talked to my truck like this I'd probably be committed. Lol. Anyway, the sun was just peaking out and things were going well. The further east I got the more excited I became. I had driven probably twenty minutes when I saw the sign to the town I had seen on the map. I was relieved when I saw a gas station all lit up with a few trucks pulled up getting fuel. I pulled in next to the pump. An older man came out holding an old oil-soaked rag. I had jumped out and was about to fill my truck when I heard him say, “I will get that for you son.” I turned and smiled and said, “No worries. I can fill it.” He continued coming over to me and then asked me if I would pop the hood and he will check the oil and coolant. I smiled and said sure then walked to the front of my truck and popped it open then went back to the pump. I finished filling my tank and a few moments later I heard my hood close and the man said, “Everything looks good.” I smiled and told him that was music to my ears, then started to follow him into the store to settle up. Just as I entered the store, I noticed there were some trail maps for several hiking trails up in the arrow head. I grabbed one and made my way to the counter. As I laid it down the man slowly slid it closer to himself and then looked up at me and said, “Going hiking?” I nodded and said yes and that I was going for a week up North. Then he said something strange. He said he knew that and then slid the map down over the edge of the counter and placed it on a chair in the corner. Puzzled I asked him what he was doing and that I wanted to buy the map. He smiled a quiet smile and then told me to wait a minute, then turned and walked back into a room behind the counter. After a few minutes he returned carrying a small satchel and laid it on the counter. The satchel looked old and weathered. I looked at the man and asked him what it was. Again, with that quiet smile he said, “It is what you have been looking for.” Puzzled I asked him what he meant. He slid it across the counter toward me and said, “This is all you will need for your journey.” Puzzled and curious I started to open the small satchel. It had leather bindings that were tied in a double knot and as I started to untie the leather straps the old man reached over and placed his hand on mine. Instantly I felt his cold hands and it was if his words disappeared and I could only see what he was saying in my mind. I pulled back and looked at him as if to say I understood and paid for my fuel. I asked how much for the satchel and with a blank look he said no charge it's yours. I grabbed it and made my way to the door bewildered as to what this was all about. I climbed back in my truck, sat there for a minute thinking of opening it up, but honestly I wanted to get out of there first. Mostly because the old man gave me the creeps. So back on the road I headed. I figured I would open it up in a little while once I got down the road a ways.
