The laughs alone were worth the $20!
Full of leaves and twigs from its many hauls to the recycling center, the Garden Car needs to turn from a pumpkin back into a carriage. School starts in two days. Before I left I said to Jim, "How many minutes into the car wash do you think it will take for someone to say 'Lady, you don't need a car wash, you need a leaf blower'?"
I thought about cleaning it myself but a more considered look told me the car wash was a better bet.
The Main Street Car Wash taught me all about the body language of car wash guys. There is, for example, a look that tells the others that "this one's a disaster!" There was a cluster of guys to clean it but there were others doing different tasks around the premises who sauntered over to take a look. The looks on their faces were priceless as they meandered by, trying to look inconspicuous. I could hardly stand it: I burst out laughing.
Pretty soon the vacuum guy announces "The vac's plugged up!" He had to take it apart to fix it.
Next they looked at the trunk. It was $1 extra for this service and well worth it. They were so puzzled over how to handle the leaf detritus that they assembled a conference of six guys. The trunk cover can be removed, they discovered, so that's what they did; then they cleaned and shampooed it.
The rest of the car wash was pretty much routine, and I drove out of there in a clean car. I was so disoriented from the new environment that I went out the entrance and a lady in a station wagon gave me a rude gesture. A clean car! I barely found my way home!
p.s. I did tip them well. Like I said, the laughs alone were worth the $20.
