leaving the lights on

A few weeks ago, Wise Dad's car battery died and when we tried to jump it, we attached the ground too close to the engine and it didn't work. So we thought the starter was broken and called AAA to tow it. Green Pea and Comma waited in breathless anticipation for Tow Mater to come to their house. When the towing service showed up, it was a platform-style tow truck and the boys were visibly disappointed. Green Pea even asked the driver if perhaps another tow truck - with a hook - was coming to our house as well.

The tow truck driver explained what I'd done wrong and we got Wise Dad's car started so we could take it to the shop and get a new battery. I didn't realize that this incident made an impression on Comma.

Comma turned on the light over his seat in the minivan this week and forgot to switch it back off. This led to a sharp reproof from Green Pea, who told him that leaving lights on in the car can kill the battery. Later that day we were driving home from dropping Green Pea off at school and I heard Comma say disapprovingly from the back seat, "That car left its lights on!" I didn't think much off the comment until a few minutes later I saw a platform-style tow truck with a car on it about to pass me. Comma's voice was full of reproach as he commented, "There's that car that left its lights on. And it runned the battery out!"