The Birthday Car Story email: elianna@eliannaradin.com I begin this story on a summer day in August, my family and I rolling steadily over the mountains of North Carolina. The air is fresh and new. My sister, brother and I like to pretend we are on a race with the other cars on the road. We were in our car, with bamboo roof racks, new back tires, and a new thermostat. She was an old Saturn relay with tannish colored seats. She and I were quite happy on this ride. We were on our way to a wedding for an old friend of moms. Kathrine. And for my birthday we were going to Sandy Bottom Trail Rides! I could just hear horses right now... Then suddenly out of nowhere our car's engine is getting hot, and by hot, I mean really, really hot, we thought that just got fixed! Certainly, we could not drive like this! Plus, we were in the middle of nowhere that means no service. Finally, we got a hold of someone but it wasn't helping we were stuck. We decided to give driving a little try, and then surprisingly we saw something. A mechanic. The road up to Asheville. In the middle of nowhere there is a little mobile home attached to a huge garage. The sign said just the one word we needed. Mechanic. We drove up the mountain and saw the cars trucks and more all over the rocky yard. There were old army jeeps hoisted to the ceiling of the garage. My sister Neriya was exited (and hungry). My brother Judah was sad. And I was worried. Mom and Dad talked with Mr. Mechanic for a long time. Turns out he worked from home and was pretty busy. We were thankful he took a look. I found out it would take over a thousand dollars to fix and we probably blew a head gasket, whatever
that was. I did not want to be late to the wedding but right now the car was important no one wanted to be late. We decided to try and drive again. We were driving along when our car got hot again. I saw a gas station. We drove in trying to call some kind of cab or a rental car but, the phone was not working very well. We were at the gas station in Saluda for what seemed to me forever. We all were getting to the last straw, looking at all the food there made Neriya hungry, Judah hungry, Shalom hungry, even I was hungry. Would our car be ok? what could we do without it? Thankfully the gas station girls were friendly and let us use the phone there. I will always remember that gas station. We got a cab after waiting for hours, I'm sure, and left our car in the parking lot but that calls for a new paragraph. The cab was a huge van with enough room for an elephant, so despite the musty smell it was a lot of fun my sister and I took pictures just for fun and we sang songs and pretty much jumped in our seats the whole ride, we talked a lot about what would happen. Mr. Cab driver drove us to the rental car place and we waited for a while. Then out came a beautiful red car. Us kids like naming cars so we will call this car red lightning. It was very late now so we grabbed fast food on the way to the hotel and then after dropping off our stuff we hurried to the wedding. We were going to be late only there for the reception but thankfully we were on our way.
The joys. When we got to the wedding it was so pretty. Lights hanging over a bridge a disco dance party. It was the most fun wedding ever. Neriya was happy about the cupcakes and so was I. a farm wedding is so pretty. Judah and Shalom loved running up the little hill by the dance floor. It was lovely with the full moon in the sky. Everyone had a good time with glow sticks and at the end under the stars and moon we swung in hammocks together. For a minute all car problems forgotten. And tomorrow was going to be a treat for sure. "Sandy bottom trail rides I am finally seeing it in person!" I thought to myself. Everyone agreed today to have a great time and then figure out all the car questions. It was my first-time ever riding on a horse by myself. At first, I was nervous, I admit, but then it was so much fun that I could do it every day! My horse's name was Ginger. Ginger was so gentle and kind. When we stopped she would always turn to see if I was ready to ride again. She was, like her name, a ginger brown with white markings. Then there was pretty Gracie, Neriya's perfect horse, who loved stopping to eat and drink. She was spots of white and brown. Then George, Shalom and Dad's, and Duke, Judah and Mom's, came along. One(George) a golden yellow and the other(duke) a brown, black, and white spotted one. We all loved them so much and the view was incredible. We went gem mining and found garnets as well, then rode back with Tyler, our guide, on Cowboy, a brown horse that led the way.
The decisions to be made. Now came a time to decide what to do. We would not be able to drive back with our car and the rental car had to be returned today what could we do "I'm feeling good about this. " I thought. We all knew God had a plan for us but, what was it? Mom and Dad had an idea. We could drive home in the rental car and return it in Charleston before it's too late! Then we would (after many questions before) buy a car that day. Renting would not work and it costs too much to fix. Although we had not budgeted for this we were hoping to get some money for our old car so we can buy a new one. The Kia company lady had said that if we towed the car there they would give us the money we agreed to. So, we set off for adventure that morning with the wind at our back and blue skies in our eyes. After our troublesome and exiting trip we were heading home yay! I fell asleep so I don t know what happed on the long drive home but I do know one thing I was, exited. We had not gotten a new, new car in years. It's always fun to do something new. Once upon a time in Charleston SC. once again. First my Dad went to the shiny new Kia place to try and get a pretty Kia Sedona but that didn't go to well. When Mom came that guy didn't even share a smile. So, they went to a Ford Dealership that we had also talked to and Mom and Dad picked out a Ford Explorer. They looked once and knew it was ours! Neriya, Judah, Shalom and I named the
charcoal colored car Silver Candy and we plan to keep it that way. Air conditioning that works! Hi tech, hands free phone and regular roof racks, though I will miss the bamboo. This car is special. And that s how I got a car for my 13 th birthday.