So, my father's car broke.

Shoulda hang glided with impromptu materials? I mean, the way you make it sound is that your pops was begrudged to fix his car - which was problematic well enough in advance - because he was sure he could foot it. But if this was more of an immediate crisis, the options are pretty limited. Overpay for cab fare or walk a stupidly long distance. You seem to be equally against both, so I have to assume it wouldn't have been endangering his employment if he called out of work until his ride was fixed? It's not too clear a picture.

More on topic, I took a job in my teenage years at a seafood distributor in the summer. The job entailed sorting used pallets into scrap or salvageable outside in the back lot. Used seafood packaging pallets. Outside. In summer.

Jam it back in, in the dark.