What's in a flat?
I have a date tomorrow...with my suking Manong Vulcanizer. Sigh.
Now, here's why...
I made it to work bright and early, parked by the usual roadside, and spent the rest of the day cooped up in the conference room. When I left the office drained after 10 hours-worth of corporate spiels and decks, I found that my tire was barbed. A coiled piece of barbed wire was piercing my left rear tire. I wouldn't have noticed; it was dark and I was itching to head home. But, the kuya, who supposedly volunteered to watch my car for the day, pointed it out. This is how our conversation went:
Now, here's why...
I made it to work bright and early, parked by the usual roadside, and spent the rest of the day cooped up in the conference room. When I left the office drained after 10 hours-worth of corporate spiels and decks, I found that my tire was barbed. A coiled piece of barbed wire was piercing my left rear tire. I wouldn't have noticed; it was dark and I was itching to head home. But, the kuya, who supposedly volunteered to watch my car for the day, pointed it out. This is how our conversation went:
Si Hagardo Verzosa (a.k.a Me): Kuya, alis na po kami. Salamat! [I was ready to hand him my tip]
Kuya: Naku, Ma'm! May wire pong nakatusok sa gulong n'yo. Hindi po kami 'yan.
Si Hagardo Verzosa (a.k.a Me): Ano, kuya? [bangag written all over my face]
Kuya: May wire pong nakatusok sa gulong n'yo. Hindi po kami 'yan. Dapat tatanggalin na namin 'yung wire pero baka akalain n'yo kami ang nagtusok. [Honestly, I really wasn't thinking of anything except how much I wanted to go home.]
Si Hagardo Verzosa (a.k.a Me): Naku. Aabot naman siguro ata ako sa gasulinahan. D'un nalang ako magpapapalit ng gulong. [Though I theoretically knew how to change a tire, I've never attempted to change one by myself AND I thought, 'di naman ata a bagay sa bright green peplum dress ko to make that moment my first time to try it.]
Kuya: Naku, ma'm, 'di ko alam. Delikado ho. [And, he immediately knelt down and fiddled with the wire.] Alisin ko na ba? Basta ma'm hindi ho kami 'yan. Tingnan n'yo pa sa video ng CCTV. [He pointed to the camera directed towards the row of cars.]
Before I could really process anything or decide on what to do, it was too late. Kuya had wiggled the wire free, and I could hear a whizzing sound coming from my tire. It was deflating rather quickly, and there was no turning back. Hasel! I had no choice; I had to get kuya to help me change my tire.
I won't jump to any conclusions, but it seemed like my flat was staged. So many bystanders were lurking around and dropping in. I don't know if I was just paranoid, but they all seemed to be in on it. Apparently, so many colleagues have suffered flats and slashed tires on this particular road before—most especially women who park solo. I had heard the horror stories, but being the first on the row, at a parking spot that was visible to so many people and easily accessible to the road, I thought I was safe. Apparently, I wasn't.
Thankfully, I wasn't alone. Two friends were going to hitch home with me, so they kept me company the whole time. A couple more colleagues came to my rescue and called the company guard to watch over the process. After a while, kuya finally finished changing the tire, and we were on our way. We handed him P100 (something I would've been willing to tip anyway) and said this:
I won't jump to any conclusions, but it seemed like my flat was staged. So many bystanders were lurking around and dropping in. I don't know if I was just paranoid, but they all seemed to be in on it. Apparently, so many colleagues have suffered flats and slashed tires on this particular road before—most especially women who park solo. I had heard the horror stories, but being the first on the row, at a parking spot that was visible to so many people and easily accessible to the road, I thought I was safe. Apparently, I wasn't.
Thankfully, I wasn't alone. Two friends were going to hitch home with me, so they kept me company the whole time. A couple more colleagues came to my rescue and called the company guard to watch over the process. After a while, kuya finally finished changing the tire, and we were on our way. We handed him P100 (something I would've been willing to tip anyway) and said this:
Si Hagardo Verzosa/now Jirita Avila (a.k.a Me): O sha, kuya. Salamat. At oo nga pala kuya, sa'n pala napapanood yung video mula sa CCTV?
If I were a voter in Paco for the coming elections, I would totally make a fuss about this. I was lucky; several angels came to my aid. But, imagine what would've happened if I were on my own—pa-damsel in my green peplum? I'd have been an easy target.
These are some of my top-of-mind pointers, just in case you get a flat tire in some dingy alley:
What do you think would be the best protocol? Can you share some tips below?
Final thought before charging this to experience: I wonder if I should really go out of my way to watch that darn video. Tara! Fieldtrip tayo to Paco?
Photo lifted from www.denverroadsidedr.com.
These are some of my top-of-mind pointers, just in case you get a flat tire in some dingy alley:
- Get someone you know to stay with you throughout the entire process.
- Don't readily accept help from strangers, especially if you're by your lonesome.
- If your tire's still good enough to drive a few meters away, drive it to the nearest safer location, like a nearby gas station or a well-lit store/lot/establishment.
- Just leave your car and come back for it with people who can help you. Do so at a safer time and with the proper reinforcements and complete tools that you need.
What do you think would be the best protocol? Can you share some tips below?
Final thought before charging this to experience: I wonder if I should really go out of my way to watch that darn video. Tara! Fieldtrip tayo to Paco?
Photo lifted from www.denverroadsidedr.com.
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