"Thanks," Max said, and headed out to get in to her ol'girl. "I know she's getting up there in years, but her and I have been through a lot together."

The car, a 1938 studebaker coupe, wasn't in bad shape for her age really. But she did have these moments where parts broke down. Maxine kinda felt like maybe her and the car had that in common- advancing years, more things not working quite as good as they used to. Such is life.

Max slid into the front seat, and turned the key. "See, you can hear how she's idling, Eric-- it's not her usual purr. And once I start driving her, there's the rattle-thump-clunk I described to you."