Never A Damsel in Distress

I witnessed a sight this morning that made me smile. I may be the only one it made smile but that's alright; I understand myself and we get along pretty good, most days. I pulled up to get some gas and this truck whipped it in beside me in front of another truck, lurched to a screeching halt 'bout half an inch from its front bumper and out popped a skinny little blond girl and her cigarette. Not much more than 16, barely legal to drive, she had her pants all tucked in to her Fat Baby boots and of course, she sported a hood with the fur and plenty of black eyeliner. She flicked that cigarette to the ground and jerked up the hood on the truck she'd pulled in front of, out of which popped a matching girl, boots, fur, and all....only she was brunette and had no cigarette. I watched them while I pumped my gas. Blondie was obviously in charge and Brownie was jumpin to her every command. "Start it! No! Don't let it die. Here, move. Let me do it." :) It so warmed my heart I almost laughed and cried at the same time. This little thing, who to me, looked like someone could break her in half by thumpin' her once real hard, was one tough cookie. They reminded me of myself, my little sister and some of the girls I knew in school. Those of us who had it a little harder than some and who'd had to grow up fast by necessity. We learned early to take care of ourselves and of each other cuz wasn't anyone else gonna do it for us. If I had car trouble...it wasn't my dad I called on...I didn't have one to call on. I called on my friends, an earlier generation of pretty, but extremely tough cookies. Our outer shell may have differed from these two I was watching; we didn't have those cute, fur lined hoods and super tread boots, didn't have as much eyeliner, but the filling was the same: hardened by life but still soft enough to help a friend in need. I stood by as they tried and tried to start that truck, watching without letting them know I was watching and then finally, I offered my help which Blondie immediately refused. But then, I knew she would. :)