The Renault skidded dangerously to a stop in a front of the oldest gas station in the world. I looked out the window and could not believe her eyes at the view. My eyes scanned around for something other than dirt and dead grass but the only odd thing I could find was the little store that ran the gas pump. It was a shabby little store, no larger than a hut, and I hoped that the interior was a little more pleasant than the exterior which was basically chipped off paint off of different kinds of wooden boards. It was as if a preschooler built its structure. I sighed as my father entered the store, hoping the store held my two favorite snacks, sunflower seeds and beef jerky.

*******

Our brand-new SUV parked behind Renault and my father drummed his fingers on the steering wheel impatiently.

The only gas station that was open for miles was Al’s Gas Guzzler. The name wasn’t much to brag about but no one really stayed long enough to make fun of old Al for the moniker. He rarely got the same customer twice in a month, I inferenced, mainly because no one traversed on the roads in the county on a regular basis. Only two cars passed us for three hours on the same road that stretched for miles and miles. Everyone was on their own when they lived in the Midwest.

“Melvin, stay calm dear,” Mom pointed out as she saw that the owner of the car wasn’t even pumping gas.

*******

My dad returned to the car shortly with two paper bags. One with two liter bottles of various sodas while the other held bags and bins of what him and I called “road-trip meals.” In reality, they were just a bunch of junk food like chips and pretzels.

I took the bags from my dad and placed the heavier one on the floor. At the first rest stop, I knew I couldn’t stay mad at him for making me go on this trip, so I moved to the passenger seat. I knew that those were our beverages. I placed the lighter one on top of my lap and peered inside, hoping to find my favorites. I saw the pretzels and rummaged around the inside of the bag for the beef jerkey. Not really a picky eater, I was just hoping my father would have picked it up since it was also his favorite.