Duke EMP

So, the battery died today at Duke.  Sitting at the top of the parking deck, I realize how screwed I really am-no one to call, and no jumper cables.  And I’m at Duke.

I ride the car down the deck, jumping off in first the whole way.  Though the engine did turn over, it wouldn’t stay on-not enough charge to really get off the ground.   Arriving at the bottom, I cruise into a RESERVED spot, pop the hood, and sell my story to the parking attendant.  The guy’s all right-laid back, leaves the exit gate up half the time, and drives a Mustang with a Superman symbol on the front.  He doesn’t have cables, but he’ll call security.

Of course, security doesn’t help visitors.

With his solemn pledge to ask every driver he takes money from for cables, I stand in front of the car and flag drivers down that are sliding their cards through.

Here’s the fun.

Out of 20 people I flagged down, 10 passed me by without a glance.  One girl walked within 2 feet of me and ignored me.  Of the other 10, 9 didn’t have cables.  One lady was nice enough to at least look, another to recommend security.  I told her about security.  She no longer likes security.  She must be a secretary.

Finally, I spot a teacher and his cohort hop into a brand new Jeep Cherokee-with a rack.  Not the one that comes with the Jeep, but the one you actively have to seek out, to be prepared on long trips.  He’s got cables.

I stalked him.

When he finally made it to my car, he turns out to be Tom Hanks pretending to be Burt Reynolds, complete with mustache.  Nice as could be, very helpful, with a tenor voice while talking, and a falsetto when telling you something is “NO PROBLEM!”

This begs the question: What would Duke do if the EMP hit?  What would happen if their car batteries died (before you engineers and logic nazis come after me, I know the EMP wouldn’t kill the batteries-just pretend) and their cell phones shorted out?

Fill in your story here.