The Internal Workings of a Road Trip

By Dan Garland

Have you ever wondered how a small child would answer this question: how does a car work? Not the generic with gas response, but the answer that comes from the whirlwind of imagination that brings together Vikings, NASA scientists, an army of super ninjas, sumo wrestlers, a farmer, a missile silo, and NASCAR pit crews to explain how electric windows, headlights, and the dink-donk noise of the blinker come together to work. This is an entertaining journey that takes the automotive engineering world and flips it on its head.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524651947

Dan Garland

Dan Garland is a married father of four who resides in Atlanta, Georgia. He is heavily involved in coaching many sports with his children. He is a project manager with the largest communication company and loves hockey.

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© 2016 Dan Garland. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/10/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5195-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5194-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016919547

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

The Garlands Load Up for the Road Trip

First Day on the Job

Reporting for Work

The Command Center

Electric Seat Move

Seat Belt Group

Takeoff

Side Mirror Group

Antenna Extension Group

Child Locks

Moonroof

Electric Defroster

Radio

Cabin Air Flow

Turn Signals

Movie Player

Cruise Control

Speedometer

Emergency Brake

Gas Gauge

Garage-Door Opener

Mr. Garland Falls Asleep

The Hero

Electric Window Group

Odometer

Seat Warmer

Clock

Outside Temperature Department

Vanity Mirror

Joe Gets Promoted

External Gas Door Button

Headlights

Gear Shifter

Horn

Power Plug

Dome Light Group

Windshield Wipers

The Garlands Reach Their Destination

Thank you to everyone we cannot see,

who helps us in our daily lives.

The Internal Workings

of a Road Trip

The Garlands Load Up for the Road Trip

The Garland house was a hub of activity as the family prepared to leave on their big summer road trip. Shuffling unhappily to the front door with their luggage were the three teenaged Garlands—Chase, Jake, and Camryn. As expected, they successfully hid any glimmer of excitement, joy, or zest for the upcoming trip, obsessing over how the looming family time together would interfere with their phone viewing, Xbox playing, Internet surfing, and FaceTiming activities.

Once at the car, they jockeyed to get their preferred positions—the seat with most legroom, the seat farthest away from their parents, the seat closest to the power supply plug, the seat that reclined the most. This was ultimately determined by pushing, shouting, arguing, and whining. Once everyone was settled, the siblings put in earbuds, and the sound of silence fell over the vehicle.

Mr. Garland was pacing around the car while mumbling to himself about timelines and estimating the best route to drive. He was in adamant denial that a smartphone could determine the route much better and more quickly than he could. Because dads always thought they knew better. After completing his mental marathon, he strategically loaded the back of the SUV as if he were building a well-fortified Lego castle in order to protect his family from fast-moving, scary, and fierce invaders.

Mom came out next, carrying bags, a notepad, several pens, snacks, and a pillow clutched under her arm, making the death-defying crossing from the front door to the car without incident.

The last one out was Parker, who was currently in a digital trance, playing Xbox on fifty-five inches of splendid HD glory. His trance was broken by the silence that rarely happened in his house. It was just him and Cosmo, the family dog, left alone in the abode. He immediately jumped up, turned off the TV, grabbed his green blanket, and ran out the front door, Cosmo bounding closely at his heels. He opened the door to the SUV’s center section, and they jumped into their designated spots for family adventures.

Once the car was successfully loaded with family, luggage, and assorted cargo, they were ready to get on the road as soon as Mr. Garland filled the gas tank.

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When they pulled into the gas station, everyone went through their usual routines. Mr. Garland filled the tank, Mrs. Garland went to the bathroom, and the teenagers tried talking their mom into buying enough candy to put the Easter Bunny into a sugar-induced coma. It was only Parker who sat quietly at the window, watching his dad at the pump as he slid the credit card in the slot, punched a button to select the type of gas he wanted, removed the nozzle, and started filling up the SUV. To everyone else, it was a very normal, unexciting activity, but for Parker, it was something almost magical, and in his mind, he felt something mysterious was happening when his dad plugged that nozzle into the car.

First Day on the Job

Meanwhile, nearby, Joe had stepped