Hairpin Happenings

I didn't know this could happen. No one told me this could happen. I heard of weird things happening, but not this. Today was not a good day for this to happen.

After a long day at work, I went out to my car. With a sigh I swung my backpack and purse into the passenger seat, and after one more breath of the cool humid air that still somehow smelled of summer, I closed the door. A plastic chocolate bar clinked against my keys as I pushed them toward the ignition. I would say put them in the ignition, except that isn't what happened.

The key wouldn't go in. Once this happened. Mom had moved my car and left the steering wheel turned too much. Today my steering wheel was level. Once my key wouldn't come out after I turned it off. That was because I forgot to put my car in park. And once before the key wouldn't go in without jiggling it. Today I jiggled. I turned the key around. I tried different angles. I pushed harder. I pushed easier. I turned the steering wheel. I dropped my keys on the floor and sat there.

Sneak approach. Without warning, I nonchalantly tried inserting the key. Nothing. In the middle of all this Mom called to see where I was (I got off work late). "When will you be home?" she asked. "If I can get my key in the ignition I'll be home in fifteen minutes." She may have thought I was being a smart-alec. I wasn't. A few minutes later I called back to let her know the key wasn't in the ignition and to see if she had any suggestions.

Creativity is not my thing. I don't construct lines to solve geometry proofs. But I can problem solve, working with what I have. And my brain was in gear as much as a tired brain can be trying to think how the ignition works and what could have happened. While Mom told me her plan to call Dad and see how close he was to be able to rescue me, I was remembering bobby pins in my hair. I never wear bobby pins except for really fancy styles. This morning, however, nothing else would do to keep the little bun in place. Sister Steve used bobby pins to pick locks all the time (Father Dowling mysteries). I wonder if you can get electrocuted by sticking plain metal into an ignition. Such were my thoughts.

I hung up, removed one pin, and stuck it in. Earlier I had looked into the ignition for a clue. This was not much help to a girl who has never before looked into an ignition. I don't know what one is supposed to look like. Nevertheless, when the pin slid some metal piece out of the way making more of a key-sized opening, I knew that was a good sign. First removing the bobby pin, then trying the key again, I was one blessed girl. Bobby pins. Who knew.

While I called Mom back to tell her the damsel was no longer in distress, I replaced the bobby pin and checked my hair in the mirror. Being a girl does have its benefits.

To God be all glory.