Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

So, in a sign of amusing lack of patience, my car was fuming smoke from its tailpipe yesterday the whole last mile home from work. This impressed on me the need to take it to a mechanic for a diagnosis.
Surprisingly, the car made the trip back to Chapel Hill and the mechanic next door. It's currently in dock, waiting autop-- examination.
I have no money to repair it. I was so nervous about it that my hands were shaking and I was in what Southerners call a state of distaction. Until I thieved a glass or two of wine from my cafe....

I hope I can make it home with the car.