My Work: Chariots of Tire 1

As the snow hangs on, self-sufficiency in the country on a solar-powered farm has it’s advantages and drawbacks. Here’s a story of a small job that grew until it reached epic proportions. A comedy, action, suspense, or horror film? You decide.

The “ticking clock” is a Hollywood term for a deadline that adds tension to a story. The hero must prevail before the bomb blows up or the asteroid hits. Well, it was Hollywood at our place when a 15-minute job took a week with a deadline looming. Here’s the screenplay for Chariots of Tire.

Act 1: On Wednesday, our hero, let’s call him Clint, needs the tractor so he can clear the latest 50 cm snowfall with the rear-mounted snowblower. Oh my, the tires are soft, both front and rear. Common when the weather gets cold and the air pressure drops. Can’t use the tractor. He calls Ben to plow out the driveway. Forecast: Two more big storms followed by a thaw when the wet snow can’t be moved but there’s plenty of time.

Clint calls Greg at the local garage to see if they have an air pig, a reinforced cylinder like a propane barbecue tank but with a hose and tire nozzle, that can be filled with air and taken to the tire. He does. Good. Greg says he will fill it and put it in the box on the old red pick-up out in back. Clint stops by on his way home Thursday evening and picks it up.

Brief Flashback: Clint coached Greg in the local baseball league. He and Clint’s son alternated between catcher and third base. Greg was quietly reliable then and he is now—plus he is an outstanding mechanic. Clint reflects on how lucky he is to have an honest, skilled, reliable mechanic close by.

So far this is a family movie.