Empty

This month we have found new levels of being “empty” on fuel. 

Up until recently I only knew these 4. 

“Empty”- the tank is somewhere below the half full mark and I should fill up. 

“Empty”- The line is hovering on the 1/4 of a tank mark.  I really should fill up soon. 

“Empty”- The line is now on E. 

“Empty”- The line is on E  AND the light has come on. 

But, there’s more... 

“Empty”- The line is on E and the light has come on but I know from past experience I can drive to and from school twice. 

“Empty”-  So I drive to and from school twice and the light is still on and I didn’t know the line could stretch beyond where it is.  

“Empty”- I know I am pushing my luck, the air and radio are off and I just know I will be stopped on the side of the road in a few minutes, BUT, I just dropped a cake off right near the house so I have a little cash now and I can fill up and then take the kids to school.   Great! 

“Empty”- I have done all the above, and then I pull up to the filling station and they are out of fuel.  They are EMPTY. 

Now I am feeling it and a bit panicky. If the fuel station doesn’t have any, then what?

There is only one option. Keep driving to the one half way between our house and school. I drive there only to find that they are empty too.  

I gotta keep going now so I drive to school, drop the kids off on the edge of the school grounds so they can walk to class and I head straight to the next available station. 

They have fuel. A huge sigh of relief and quick prayer thanking God that we made it. 

I get 50 kwacha worth of gas ($10- a little over a gallon!) and drive home. It’s still on empty. 

Empty with the light on.  :)