In an Unstarting Car

The window went down but will not go up.

A few minutes prior, turning the Start key made the dashboard light up but didn’t turn over the engine.

I am in the parking lot of my workplace. I was eager to get home.

I have logged in the Triple-A and have requested roadside assistance.

Now I wait/And hope for no rain/And for a simple and quick fix.

It is noon.

I have about 14 ounces of water and this phone, which has about 70% charge.

I tried the key again. This time there is clicking similar to a dry-fired gun, about a click per second.

It is twelve oh four.

A text message says a driver is on their way.

It is twelve fifteen.

Clouds are making shadows.

I bought this car last than a month ago. I told everyone trying to sell me a car that I didn’t want anything fancy, just reliable transportation. One phrase I used over and over was “no headaches.”

It is twelve twenty-one.