Author Shea Seranno had just taken the exit ramp near his home when his car sputtered and died. Trying unsuccessfully to restart the car, he called a tow truck. The wrecker promptly arrived and deposited his car in the driveway. Serrano popped the hood and fiddled with the wires and hoses a bit. Having exhausted his less-than-vast auto repair knowledge, he called his father.

His father listened as he explained what had happened. His father simply responded, "I'll come up there tomorrow after work." Shea's father lived 215 miles from him. His dad was going to drive up after driving a city bus for 10 hours. Shea's father arrived on his doorstep three hours after he had turned in his bus at the depot. He said hello, hugged his son, and walked back out to the driveway to have a look under the hood.

It took about 15 seconds. His father emerged from under the hood, looked at his son, returned his wrench to his toolbox, and walked past Shea to his own vehicle. "What's wrong? Did you not bring the right tools?" Shea asked. "We're done," his dad replied. "What's wrong with it?" "It's out of gas, son."

Shea's dad ate with his son, and headed home. Another 215 miles. 430 miles round trip after 10 hours of driving a bus. Seranno says his father didn't harass him or berate him that evening over dinner. He didn't even bring it up at all. As a matter of fact, nine years later, his father had still never mentioned the embarrassing incident again.