This is a Chip story but it doesn't start with him. Everyone who reads my blog knows that Chip LOVES Papa. If there are 15 people on this place you will find Chip with Papa. I imagine if there was 100 people on this place, Chip would still be with Papa. This story is about Chip but starts with our car.
We bought our car 3 years ago, for $300. I remember it was 3 years ago because R was a baby. Still in an infant seat and we drove Papa out of town to pick up this car. I was unimpressed. With the drive out there and ANOTHER cheap car. We've had a few cheap cars and they never do as well as hoped. Until this one. In fact we still have one in the front waiting for the day it will be towed away! They all seem to leave in better shape then we get them but none of them are 'long term cars' they tend to have some issue that we either can't find and fix or is not worth fixing. This one though has had no real problems. We did name it the 1st month or so we had it but whatever it's name was it was quickly replaced with 'Papa's Black Car' and forgotten. It's served us well, driving Papa to work and back and to the city when he was in school and gets pretty good gas mileage. It works like a $3,000 car in a $300 car body. The most we've done to it is put tires on it and keep it full of oil. It has/had a small oil leak that Papa has fixed several times only to find out it's not the right place and it still leaks. It's smell is a real put off when it's hot as it the oil drips slowly on the engine and burns when the car is hot. It's such a tiny bit that it's not a problem.
Last week this $300 cars alternater finally gave up. Not really a big deal. It happened at work so Papa took it out right away and took it to a local place to see if they could rebuild it. It was a Wednesday so the kids and I had stopped in on our way to AWANA and that's when I found out about it. I was a bit worried I'd have to go get Papa at work at 10pm when they close, but he assured me he could just take the service truck home. NICE!! I thought no more about it. I will next time!
That night after the kids were all in bed I decided to watch a bit of James Harriot and I'd just gotten into it when Chip started BARKING. Normally he barks only if somethings happening and then stops. This time he BARKED AND BARKED AND BARKED. Ok so SOMETHING was going on out there. My 1st thought was someone was coming to pick up something out of the outside fridge/freezer. Happens all the time. Not normally so late at night and Chip knows them all pretty good and he doesn't bark at them if he knows them. Hmmm. Moose?? So I pause my movie and head out to see what is the big deal. I got to the door just in time to see the service truck about half way down the driveway. It had totally skipped my mind that Papa would be driving it home. Chip was enraged! I've not heard him BARK like that in ages. He was even growling, still hiding between the porch and the house mind you but he was in full guard dog mode. So I helped :)
"Chip, it's going to get you!! Watch OUT Chip, it's an alien and it's going to eat you up!" I was laughing so hard I'm surprised he believed me. But he did! The BARKING got LOUDER and hoarser with more growls and his hair stood up on end. Papa parked the truck in his normal spot but Chip was SURE this evil truck was going to GET HIM!!! Papa was laughing and I could hardly talk I was laughing so hard. I started telling Chip, "Papa's gonna GET YOU!!' Poor Chip never even heard the Papa part. Papa was out of the truck and I'm sure Chip though his nose was lying to him. This was not his beloved Papa.. this was some strange thing that was going to eat him. Papa went around the back of the Travelall then JUMPED out were Chip could see him and said "RAAAAAAAA." Chip was INSTANTLY under the porch. Tail between his legs and quiet!! Papa and I laughed so hard tears ran!! Poor Chip!
Papa called him after a minute and he came out slowly with his tail between his legs. Normally Chip BOUNDS to Papa in leaps and beware anyone or anything that gets in his way! This time Papa had to call him several times before he would come out and a few more before he made his way all the way to Papa. I had to encourage him from the house. Then when Chip got to Papa he slobbered all over him and Papa rubbed him all over like he likes and all was forgiven!
The car's alternater was beyond rebuilding and so another was ordered and put in that same day. Papa drove the car home that night. I'm sure Chip was relived. He greeted Papa in his normal fashion, trying to climb into the open door while trying to lick him anywhere he can reach before Papa can get out. I do wonder what will happen the next time Papa has to bring the service truck home :)
After Papa read this he reminded me that Chip didn't just dive under the house with his tail between his legs.. he YIPPED really high pitched first!! LOL!!
