Keep enough gas in your car. (people are nice)

I usually buy my gas at our local Alameda Gas Station on Wednesdays. They usually have good prices, and on Wednesdays, they have the "lowest price of the week." It's a good schtick and they're nice people.

So the out-of-gas light has been on for a couple of days, but I haven't left Alameda, so thought I was OK. I went to my swim class today, and just a few blocks out of the parking lot, the car does that heart-stopping lurch that signifies "You're running on fumes, baby."

I go to swim class with a bare minimum. I bring my license and 50¢ for parking. I don't bring my wallet , a credit card, or any more money than that. So here I am, actually 1 block from a gas station but it's behind me on a one-way street of course, and all I have is the spare change in my car. I drive/coast to the station (4 blocks) and make it in. I walk up to the window and say, "I'm running out of gas and this is all I have." He says, "Fifty-one cents. That's OK, I'll mumble mumble." I figure he says, "I'll put this in and you should be OK." I start pumping and it goes past 51¢ and I'm thinking, I guess I misunderstood him. It keeps going and I let it go to $1.00 and stop. I know he let me put more in than I had; it was just a handful of nickels, dimes, and a penny or three. I remember dropping a quarter in my car a bit ago, and rummage around till I find it, after checking all the other nooks and crannies for change or a spare buck. I walk up to the window and say, "You let me pump too much!" and drop the quarter in the tray. He waves me off, "No, no, it's fine" and doesn't even want the quarter. I leave the quarter but still, that was kind.

I made it to the Alameda station and made a new vow to fill up with at least 1 gallon the next time the light goes on.