Mark, who is a banker, had made it a habit to refill his car tank every day after work in order to save him the stress and time of stopping by the gas station in the morning, as before he made buying gas in the evening a habit, he always spent so much time at the gas station every morning and most times ended up going to work very late and always getting queried, so he had to settle for buying gas every evening, and it has saved him from all the troubles buying gas in the morning put him through.
After a long day at work, he picked his sister up from her place of work, and they were on their way home when they passed the gas station he normally buys gas from but did not stop by, and his sister had to ask, "We are not buying gas today?" His sister Perpetual asked out of curiosity to know his reason for going against something that had become a habit.
"I am too tired for that; I would probably buy it tomorrow morning before going to work." Mark responded.
"I hope you have not forgotten what buying gas in the morning has put us all through." Perpetual asked, "I almost lost my job, and you too; I suggest we try and get gas today against tomorrow, brother." Perpetual suggested
"I wish you were me, so you could understand how tired I am, dear sister. We will get it tomorrow; please bear with me." Mark responded as he kept driving.
"If you say so." Perpetual said with a tone
"Thank you for understanding." Mark said as he touched her cheek to tease her.
They got home, made dinner, and just when they were about to eat, a neighbor came to break the news that got Mark and Perpetual, who eavesdropped, all worked up. "Hey Marky, good evening." Mr. Sam, one of Mark's neighbors, greeted.
"Good evening, Sam, I hope you had a great day." Mark asked
"I did, but it got bad after work. I realized all the gas stations were closed, and there are rumors that there would be an increase in the price of gas; many greedy gas stations closed up so as to gain more. Throughout this town, only one gas station still sells gas, and I assure you they too will close up soon as they wait for the new price." Mr. Sam said
"Of all days, why today? I have always bought gas after work, but I was so tired today and decided to buy it tomorrow morning, and now this? My sister will kill me if she hears this. She suggested I do our usual way of buying gas every evening after work, but I declined, and now this, the queue that will be at the only functional gas station tomorrow, will be out of this world." Mark said as he buried his head in his palms.
"You don't have to get yourself worked up; if you really want to get gas and don't want to go to work late, just go with a keg in your car. I know people with kegs are allowed to cut the line, as I have seen it happen several times." Mr. Sam advised as he walked back to his apartment.
"I overheard you and Mr. Sam's conversation; I just hope what he suggested works." Perpetual said as she entered her room.
Mark went to bed with a little bit of peace, as he had high hopes that Mr. Sam's advice and suggestion would work perfectly well, as no one would expect one with a keg to join the queue, so cutting the line would be easy, and he will not have his sister on his neck because she will be all out for him if eventually she goes to work late. The following day, Mark parked his car at a distance from the gas station and picked up a keg from the car trunk, hoping to cut the line. Entering the gas station, he went straight to the pump attendant.
"Hey, the line is back here." One of the pump attendants said, pointing at a gas pump that was meant for those with kegs; seeing the queue, he knew it would take time before it got to his turn.
"Since when? I thought those with kegs could easily cut the line?" Mark asked
"That was before there was a scarcity of gas; there is no cutting the line today," the pump attendant responded.
