He'd come to the rescue alright
good hearted and obliging
but if you were not familiar
with his modus operandi then
one could easily become unstuck.

Worse off in fact than being at the
side of the road stranded with a
slow purring starter-motor hardly
enough to crank a 6 cylinder diesel
saloon with wink'y eyed headlights
after a night in the Irish misty fog.

One thing for sure, he always had a
sturdy chain in the back of his Hiace,
experienced in the need of being towed
himself ensured a partial good fortune
in the event of he coming along at your
time of need.

A bit forgetful, he is, because 40 years
back I had the misfortune of being in
his wake after I ran out of fuel and not
a car in sight to siphon. On he came and
just like Superman I was hitched up and
away we went like the clappers.

After a mile or so, with no warning, he
turned left and the rope (as it was then)
went under my left wheel and snapped,
he never looks in the rear view mirror
nor did he notice any difference in the
drag, there I was again, stuck by the
wayside.

Today it was not my turn though, I was
an observer of history repeating itself.

Away he went again, car in tow and then
came the jump start in first gear (fatal) as
the torque in a Diesel locks the wheels and
the chain was wound round the bumper
"THUD" and away he went after dislodging
it and once again, no look back as he dragged
the metal object sparking along the road.

Mickey Flynn hasn't changed a bit in 4o years.