At noon I took Daisy’s car and made a run to the delicatessen I’d patronized the day before. Since Tannie had commandeered yesterday’s braunschweiger on rye, I ordered one for myself. Daisy said she’d be happy with whatever I picked up, so I had the counterman put together a sliced-turkey sandwich on sourdough bread. I ordered a second one and then added potato chips, sodas, and a bag of cookies. As long as we were stuck there we might as well enjoy ourselves.

We ate in her car, watching the excavation as though we were at a drive-in movie. A tow truck appeared, the most exciting occurrence in the past three hours. Tom Padgett must have gotten bored because I saw him back away and start heading in our direction. He had his fat-stemmed glasses in hand, polishing one lens with a white handkerchief. His jeans, cowboy boots, and western-cut shirt gave him the air of a rodeo rider, complete with slightly bowed legs.

I said, “Hang on.” I opened the car door and got out. “Hi, Tom. Are you off to lunch?”

“Come again?” He put on his glasses and cupped a hand to one ear.

“I wondered if you were on your way to lunch.”

“Yes, ma’am. I thought I’d grab a bite somewhere.”

“I can save you the trip. We have an extra turkey sandwich, if you’re interested.”

“That’d be nice if you’re sure it’s okay.”

“If you don’t eat it, we’ll have to toss it out.”

He used the front fender of Daisy’s car as a makeshift picnic table. I popped open the remaining soda and passed it to him. He shook his head to the offer of potato chips but later accepted a cookie that he downed with enthusiasm.

I said, “How’s it going? You’ve managed to get a lot closer to the hole than we have.”

He cleared his mouth and ran a paper napkin across his lips, nodding as he did. “They’re making good progress. Looks like they’re about to try pulling the car out of the hole.”

“Really, that close?”

He wadded up his sandwich wrappings. “That’s why they got the tow truck. Might not work, but it’d sure be a lot easier than what they’ve done.”

“How long did you hang around last night?”

“As long as I could. I had paperwork to catch up on, so I left before they called it a wrap. I was surprised how much they’d accomplished. Lot of dirt.”

“Was it your equipment they were using when the road was built?”