A Goddamn Genius
Contains spoilersOverview
Stranded near Redding with a broken serpentine belt, Cameron confronts the consequences of his neglect and stalled flight to California. He turns to a how-to video and resolves to fix the problem himself, signaling a shift from avoidance to accountability and self-reliance.
Summary
On a sun-blasted freeway shoulder near Redding, Cameron stares into the camper’s open hood as semitrucks roar by. The serpentine belt has snapped. He tugs at the broken belt with one hand and holds a replacement from the glove box with the other, recognizing major components but not the belt’s routing.
He recalls the persistent squeal he ignored and how the power steering failed during the last twelve hours of driving. Continuing would overheat the engine, compounding one more failure on top of his botched departure from Sowell Bay.
With no real option, Cameron props his phone on the bumper and follows an online tutorial, deciding to install the belt himself. He rejects self-pity and resolves to act like “a goddamn genius,” reframing the breakdown as a test of competence and responsibility.
Who Appears
- Cameron Cassmore
Stranded near Redding with a snapped serpentine belt; follows a video to fix it; resolves to act.