What finally doomed me: stopping to get my tax return postmarked at a post office in Harper, Texas. Yet another reason to curse the IRS. (Is there any end of reasons?)
Something about stopping and going, Whip It! doesn't like. About two miles past Harper (population: ca. 200), we broke down again. I began walking down 290 back to Harper. No cars going my way for a long time. Finally, one appeared on the horizon behind me. I stuck my thumb out, and a woman stopped. Her name was Kathy. Once inside her car I explained my problem.
"I'll take you to Bones," she said. "Bones will know what to do." Bones, I repeat in my head. For all I know, "Bones" could turn out to be the town cannibal. But Kathy seems trustworthy and kind--and, she says, she watched Herb Alpert record an album back in '69 at A&M studios! She promises to provide more info on this later. For now, we're heading towards "Bones."
