Running on Empty

Eastern Oil on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair is known for its low prices and its discounts for cash. Cars are always maneuvering around each other like baby water buffalo to sidle up to  the mama pumps.

But yesterday morning, only four of Eastern's twelve nozzles had any gas to give.

The station was completely out of regular and plus, which is why these nozzles were laid on the ground like anaesthetized snakes. (So I'm mixing my metaphors; it's early in the morning.)

Why?

"The truck should have been here an hour ago," said the attendant, shaking his head. "I don't know where he is."

Upshot?

If you absolutely, positively needed gas then and there, you had to shell out for premium, the only grade at Eastern above $4 a gallon.

Gulp.

That wasn't my gas tank, that was my Adam's apple.

Tags: Bloomfield Avenue | Montclair | gas | photography | gas prices | Eastern Oil