Big Yellow Taxi
Chapter 32
Daryl had a beer. Then he had another beer. When the light started fading low in the sky, Rowan's mother showed up with a basket of fried chicken, a bowl of potato salad, and a giant carafe of strong coffee. Daryl took the food from the woman, thanking her profusely. Then he, Aaron, and Eric sat down on the dirt floor of the barn in a loose circle and ate.
Lola wasn't the first or the only person that stopped by to bring Daryl something. Ayla came with a bundle of pillows and sleeping bags that she loaded into the back of the van for them. The old man that led the guided meditation brought them a beanbag chair that was half held together with duct tape and a pillowcase full of mismatched socks. A fluffy orange cat followed the old man, rubbing back and forth between his legs as he tossed his offerings in through the open door of the bus. Another woman brought a picnic basket full of venison jerky and dried fruit. A tall black man with a pronounced limp hauled a case of water onto the bus, hiding it under some of the sleeping bags since single use plastics weren't really allowed.
Daryl wasn't really sure how to react to all the sudden acts of benevolent kindness he was receiving. Or the words of encouragement and hope that came with each gift. Ayla simply hugged him and wished him a good journey. The cat man recited a poem. Some of the others just laid a gentle hand on Daryl's back and said blessed be, a phrase that he knew by now was commonly spoken here and seemed to have different meanings depending on the circumstances.
At some point Aaron disappeared and reappeared with a set of flood lights that were rigged to a long extension cord. He set them up and pointed them towards the engine while Eric snored softly in the back of the bus, his ginger head resting on the beanbag chair and his arms around Rowan's giant black dog. Tank appeared sometime during the early evening hours and climbed onto the bus. The large animal then refused to be dislodged from his chosen spot, growling fiercely at anyone that tried to coax him down out of the vehicle.
"The battery is dead and I think the clutch is still sorta fucked," Daryl announced, "...but I think we can push start it and get it going." Aaron nodded, rubbing his eyes. He held out for most of the night but eventually gave in and retreated inside the bus for a catnap. The first few streaks of sunlight were painting the morning sky. Daryl hadn't slept all night. But he didn't look as tired as Aaron expected.
"Get up get up get up!," Aaron hollered as he rousted Eric from his sleep. He was the lightest of the three so Daryl and Aaron corralled him into the driver's seat. He was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Put yer foot on the brake. Hold yer other foot down on the clutch. When we're ready to push, ease off the brake." Daryl reached over the man and jammed the shifter into first gear. "When I tell ya, yank yer foot off the clutch and jam on the gas," he instructed. Eric nodded even though he wasn't quite sure what was about to happen when he followed Daryl's instructions. Daryl slapped the driver's side door shut. Then he and Aaron got on either side of the van. The back slider doors were hanging open. They gripped the frame and started pushing.
"Let off the fuckin' brake," Daryl hollered once he realized the small bus wasn't moving. Eric cursed and hollered his apologies. Then he eased his foot off the brake. The van started to roll forward. There was a slight decline in the road that worked in their favor. The bus picked a little speed as they pushed it over the gravel drive. "NOW!," Daryl hollered. "Hit the gas!"
The large yellow brick of a bus lurched roughly forward as the engine engaged and sputtered to life. Eric got so excited he nearly drove the bus right into a tree. But thankfully he righted the wheel before he crashed.
"GET IN!," Daryl hollered at Aaron as he leaped inside the bus himself. The man dove in, his feet still dangling out the open door. Daryl grasped the man and drug him the rest of the way inside, shoving Tank out of his way as he pulled. Aaron and Eric were laughing. The small group of people that were up early to milk the cows and goats were standing outside the barn. Daryl could hear them cheering and clapping.
"Should we stop now?," Eric asked. He wasn't sure if this was a test run to see if they could get the van going or if they were leaving. The back doors of the bus were still hanging open.
"HELL NO!," Daryl hollered. He pulled the door he leaped in through shut. Then moved to do the same to Eric's door. But before he could get it closed a large tan dog came flying in through the opening at full speed, a long length of broken chain dangling from her collar.
"Get the fuckin' hell outta here Lily!," Daryl cursed as he struggled with the large puppy that just forcefully tackled him to the floor of the bus. He tried shoving the dog back towards the door, even using his feet to push her massive body. But she quickly leaped over him and darted towards Tank, ducking behind the larger dog. When Daryl made another grab at her, Tank growled. The hair on his back was standing up like a mohawk and all his teeth were showing. "Come on Tank," Daryl said, realizing now that he was talking to the large dog like he was a person that could be reasoned with, "...she's got to go. Lily can't come with us." Daryl reached in again but got the same angry growling response from the giant black beast. "Well fuck you too then!," he announced.
Daryl quickly turned and slid the door shut before any more unwanted guests could leap in.
"What are we going to do with Rowan's dogs?," Aaron asked, eyeing the large beasts with some trepidation. Daryl shrugged.
"I guess they're comin' with us."