Foible #4: One ATM in Town

While out for a walk one morning, I remembered that I needed to buy a birthday card for Aunt Hazel. I never quite knew what to write in Aunt Hazel’s card because she did all the talking whenever we saw each other. Come to think of it, I don’t know if I have ever spoken a full sentence to Aunt Hazel before she just took over. Anyway, I had to get her a card and with no cash in my wallet, I headed for the only ATM in town.

Since it was the only one, they made it a drive-thru, but I didn’t realize that at the time. I arrived to find a line of three cars so I stood behind the last car to mark my place in line. I felt kind of naked standing there because the other people in line had a ton of steel surrounding them to protect them and clothe them, while I stood there out in the open.

The first car finished and we all moved up. I took about six steps. The exhaust of the car in front of me made me cough a bit. By then, a car pulled up behind me and I turned around and blushed, feeling naked again, but the woman just smiled kindly at me.

Just then, the car in front of me turned on its windshield washers and wipers. It wasn’t raining. She just needed a cleaning. Some of those windshield washers are powerful and two sprays went up over the windshield then over the car roof and doused me. Of course, the driver did not notice, but the driver behind me did and she called out of her car window and offered me a tissue. I gladly took it and used it to clean my glasses. The windshield washer fluid did wonders and my glasses have never been so clean. I’ll have to remember that.

I thanked the woman for the tissue. The line was moving ahead again so the windshield washer driver was now at the ATM and I walked up behind her. By this time, other drivers on Main Street saw me standing there. They all looked at me funny and smiled. No longer embarrassed, I now nodded to some onlookers and waved to others.

Finally, it was my turn. The security camera of the ATM was set up to get a good look at a driver seated in a car. So, I am sure they got a good picture of my belly as I stood there punching buttons. I’ve lost a few pounds so probably no one will recognize me on the security tape.

With cash in hand, I turned and waved to the line of six cars now behind me. Some politely honked back as I stepped over onto the sidewalk and headed toward the card shop. Certainly, I now had something to write in Aunt Hazel’s card. I would tell her about the ATM line and getting the money to buy her card.