Me: "Hey, I think the van needs to go in. There's this scraping sound. I think there's something wrong with the brakes."
Husband: "Probably the bearings. I'll call and see if we can get it in tomorrow."
The next afternoon
Me: "Did they say what was wrong?"
Husband: "Yeah. We need new brakes."
Two days later
Me: "Do you hear that sound? That wasn't there before they did the brakes."
Husband: "It's probably just a chair bouncing around in the back."
I take out the chair and take the van out for a drive.
Me: "Definitely a new sound."
Husband: "I'll take it in Monday morning."
Monday morning
Husband: "He says it's just a body noise. If it gets worse while I'm gone, just bring it back in. Should be fine."
Late Monday morning on way to airport
Me: "Do you hear that noise? It sounds like a helicopter overhead."
Husband: "It's just the pavement. Wait until you get on another road."
Two minutes later
Me: "OK! Did you hear that? It's a lot louder!"
Husband: "Just bring it in when you get back to town."
30 seconds later
Me: "Omigosh!"
Husband: "Pull over! Pull over!"
An interstate off-ramp appears and I steer off I-29, the van making a horrible grinding sound. We jump out and run around the back. Hot, twisted pieces of metal lay on the ground.
The husband calls AAA for a tow and the service station, which dispatches a car for him to take to the airport. Next, the husband calls the towing service, but the guy hasn't heard from AAA, yet.
So, I call AAA, wondering why the tow service hasn't been called. While I'm on the phone with AAA, I miss a call from another tow service. I hang up and call him back. The husband shakes his head and comments about my impatience, although I will be the one left waiting roadside.
Me: "A+ Towing is coming, not the Aurora guy."
Husband: "No. Dale from Aurora is coming."
Me: "Well, why did Evan from A+ call and say he's on his way?"
Husband (holding his head and looking at me like I'm an idiot): "I talked to Dale. He's got the paperwork. He's the only one coming."
Thirty minutes later
Car arrives for the husband to take to the airport. I wait for the tow service. First one to show? A+ Towing.
Me: "Umm, there's another tow service already on the way. He's from where we live, so I'm going to wait for him."
Tow guy: "I've got the paperwork."
Me: "So does he. I'm going to wait for him."
Five minutes later
Dale of Aurora Towing arrives. He hooks chains to the van, pulls it onto the bed of his truck and picks up more twisted metal from the pavement.
Dale: "Looks like the brake fell off."
Me: "Yeah, we just got new brakes put on, but I told my husband there was a weird noise. We brought it back this morning and they said it was just a body noise, that it would be fine."
Dale: "Always listen to a woman's ear."
Me: "Why's that?"
Dale: "Women hear the smallest details."
Damn right.
