Knock on Wood
Yearbook Students Prove Resourceful at Dodge City
by Becca Hawkinson
January 28, 2010
Last Wednesday morning I woke up excited that I was getting out of school for the day to selle yearbook ads. But as Mrs. P pulled in the parking lot I knew the day wasn't going to turn out as I thought it would because we were taking the Excursion. It was my prior experience that this vehicle was not in top shape, for every time we had to take it to FFA events we always had some sort of trouble with it. So my big mouth just had to say something about it when we got in. Bad idea!
We actually did make it to Dodge so it wasn't until we stopped at Long's western store that we had a problem. You know how girls and shopping go hand in hand, well, we took so long "selling" this yearbook ad, Mrs. P decided to turn off the vehicle. Another bad idea. We couldn't get it started! All our minds went swimming on finding someone to call for help. Seeing that the clock wouldn't even light up when Mrs. P would try to start it, I figured we just needed a jump. So I called a good friend of mine, Brian Shirley, to come give us a jump. When he arrived and popped the hood he saw that our battery cables were worn out and needed to be replaced. He pulled on the cables and told Mrs. P to start it up. He then told me how to fix it if it happened again and was on his way. Our payment? A free yearbook ad for B and S Trailers.
When we pulled into Applebee's for lunch Mrs. P was very hesitant to turn off the Excursion but we reassured her that it would be fine, and if it wouldn't start we knew how to fix it. After enjoying our delicious lunch, we got in the vehicle to leave and, yep, you guessed it! We couldn't get it to start again! Mrs. P popped the hood and luckily we got it started.
Not only did this happen to us these two times, but it happened again when we were leaving Walmart. Only this time we had a little bit of trouble. After trying to start it about six times, Mrs. P and I finally decided it was a good idea to go buy some vice grips to clamp the cable down to the battery. As it turned out, we didn't have to use them. We got it started and were finally on our way home.
I guess you could call this story a cry for help. The rest of yearbook staff and I believe it is time for action. Mr. Jansonious and School Board Members, please consider replacing this vehicle. PLEASE!!
