This Month's Story

I sat on leather seats and looked at a digitized dash with an AM/FM radio and even a cassette player. It had an electric clock, air–conditioning and electric windows that you could open and close with the press of a button. You could even open the trunk from the inside.

Now what I am about to tell you, happened a little while back. In fact, quite a while back; actually 1978. Things have changed but I want you to think about it when you go to buy your new car.

I was driving pass the Chevrolet dealership in Gulfport, when I suddenly slowed, then pulled up and parked. It seemed that this was a good time to look at the small pickup trucks that were just starting to be the rage on the market.

When I went inside to look around, a salesman came up and asked if he could help.

“I’m looking for a pickup truck,” I said.

“Well, sir, what are you driving now?”

“A Volkswagen bug”

“I believe I have just the thing for you.”

With this he took me through the showroom out a side door and then to a side lot. There he led me to a brand new 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

It was beautiful. It was a sort of golden brown with a Landau roof. The sticker said it had everything.

He opened the door and I got in.

I sat on leather seats and looked at a digitized dash with an AM/FM radio and even a cassette player. It had an electric clock, air–conditioning and electric windows that you could open and close with the press of button. You could even open the trunk from the inside.

“Well,” I stuttered, gazing around me, “I was really looking for a truck.”

The salesman smiled.

“Well, sir, this here is a demo, so I can give you a real good deal on it. Forget the sticker price. Tell you what, where do you live?”

“Just down the coast, in Waveland.”

“Sir, take the car home and show it to your wife. The keys are there and it has a full tank of gas. Drive it around and bring it back tomorrow and we’ll see what we can do on a trade–in on your Volkswagen.”

With that he closed the door and waved goodbye and I drove off.

I drove down the beach highway, the sand and water on one side, the live oaks and large houses on the other. I had driven this road hundreds of times, but somehow things were different.

This car was definitely not a Volkswagen.

Although the weather was nice, I turned on the air–conditioning. A current of cool air bathed my face.

Leaning forward, I turned on the FM radio. There was a control for the rear deck speakers; actually there were two more speakers in the doors as well as in the dash. One of the controls said “Fade.” I decided not to touch it.

I waved at people as I passed them and they waved back. I sat a little straighter in the seat, my arm on the fold–down armrest. I felt myself relaxing; it was a beautiful day.

When I got to Waveland, I took the beach road to my house instead of going down Highway 90. When I reach my house, I drove pass the large oaks and up on the grass. Going to the side of the house, I parked by the kitchen window.

My wife, Stella stared at me through the window in surprise and then came running out.

Gretal, our large German hound came running out with her.

“Paul, what have you done now? Where did you get this car?”

I opened the door and, Gretal leaped in, settling in a regal poise in the back seat, leaning slightly forward as if to offset some imaginary speed. I looked back at her. Her silver gray coat complemented the soft brown of the leather seats.

She looked beautiful.

Stella also looked at her and yelled at her to get out. Gretal just stared straight ahead and refused to move.

“Well,” I said trying to explain, “I was in Gulfport and the Volkswagen had been giving me trouble … I thought maybe a pickup truck … “

I stopped not knowing really what to say. Then I looked back at Gretal.

“Look at Gretal. See there’s room for her. And with these seats, she won’t be any trouble in this car.”

“Paul, we don’t buy cars to match the dog. Gretal get out! We are not getting this car! Gretal get out of there! Right now!”

But Gretal wouldn’t get out.

I traded in the Monte Carlo many years later with the odometer reading slightly over 250 thousand miles. I traded it for a brand new 1990 silver Ford Ranger pickup truck.