Who ate my chankla???

"Who ate my Chankla???" by Erika J. Freeman

It was a perfectly warm afternoon as my roommate and I decided it was time to run to Long's for Huggies (for her two year old), and I was in desperate need of hair ties. Not sure how we are always in need of hair ties, but at any rate, I was in need. My other roommate, Evan, borrowed my car to go to Tracy (far away) to save on gas money, and failed to do two important things: one, put gas in my car before returning it well below the E, and two, to check the oil. I gave specific instructions on this, as my car is not as young as most and requires greater attention.

After finally figuring out that a quart of oil for $5 at the gas station is not the most cost effective way to put oil in your car, we finally made our way to Kragen's and Longs. Oh, did I mention that the mirror portion of my driver's side mirror fell of while Evan was driving to Tracy? True story! So, on our way home from the store we drove leisurely through our neighborhood, when something on the curb of a house caught my eye! Since I have been looking for a very specific type of bookshelf on craigslist, I was excited to see exactly what I wanted sitting on the curb. I walked up to the house and the gentleman I spoke to was happy to have me haul it away!

Haul away...hmmm...yes, how can we handle this??? Tia (six months pregnant) and myself (back still recovering) and my little Toyota....yes...posing a bit of a challenge. I suggest I walk it the quarter of a mile home, but decide my back may not like that so well, then decide on top of my car would work if we're careful. Tia suggests laying it across my open trunk! Great idea! Yes, we decide that will be the best choice! She drives, I follow behind the car holding the shelf steady. Who knew I could run a quarter of a mile in purple chanklas, black Rasta shorts, and a black t shirt in the middle of summer???

That's right, I chased my car home a quarter of a mile, laughing the whole way as people passed us by and took a good look at one skinny white girl driving a ghetto fabulous car, with a bookshelf hanging a foot over on each side, and a full figured white girl in chanklas (aka flip flops) running behind the car. Not only was I trying to keep up with Mrs. Leadfoot, but I also stepped into a pothole, for which she gave no warning, only to discover a huge chunk of my favorite pair of chanklas to be missing. Good thing my toe is safe and sound! My belly was sore from laughing so hard and I just barely started to break a sweat by the time we made it home! I earned that bookshelf!

Lesson learned: No matter the distance, don't forget to stretch after chasing your car down the street. =)

ej