muley

So, Saturday Aug 2, 2008, I wake up, get ready to go to the Brooks Museum of Art to see The Prints of Andy Warhol show, and get outside to find my tire flat.

I change the tire to the donut, go to the show, and come home. I talk to my mom and tell her that I have a flat and need it fixed and was considering Wal-Mart. She reminds me that our whole family has always used Byhalia Tire and Battery and I should go there. So, I say okay and head out that way.

I get there and, as usual, I introduce myself at the counter: "Hi, I'm Kevin Williams, and I need two new tires and an alignment, please."

The guy is nice, we go out so he can check the car, tells me to pull around to an open bay in the back, so I do. I park, the guy tells me I can go in, and I do. I go in and begin reading my book.

This older fellow, the owner (unbeknownst to me) comes up and says, "You Kevin Williams?"

"Yes, sir," I replied.

"Which car is your's?" He asks.

I point out, "The 1999 Ford Escort in the middle."

He heads out the door. "Should I follow you?" I ask, thinking something is wrong. He doesn't answer and continues to my car and begins walking around it, and I go back in and continue to read my book.

A little while has passed and the same fellow says, "Mr. Williams, can you come to the counter?"

"Sure," I say, and go there.

"Can I see your driver's license?" He asks me.

I'm confused, but hand them to him thinking 'who's he think he is, a cop?' He writes my driver's license number down on a piece of paper and, handing me the paper, says, "Can you sign this please?"

"Sure," I answer, looking at the paper and I'm shocked! It's a receipt. But, when did I pay? I didn't remember paying and have no clue why I'm getting a receipt. Has alzheimer's set in? Was I so preoccupied I didn't realize I was paying up front when I first approached the counter? Or, had I paid and just not realized I did it? What could be wrong with me?

I looked at the paper, not signing it, and he asks, "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," I say, sign the paper, and handing it back to him, nervously say, "No. I don't remember paying for this."

He looks down and then looks up with a big ol' smile, "Happy birthday!"

I'm surprised for sure! I was speechless, then it dawned on me: "Okay, who did it? My mom or stepdad?"

He just grins. The surprise paid off, but I got so nervous thinking that I had lost my mind, paid him and didn't even remember it!!

I finally got him to tell me it was my mom.
Thanks, Mama!