Gasoline??

So here is the relating of one of the most interesting moments on our Italian adventure.

We were just leaving Milan (what a drivers nightmare! Italian cities and cars do not go well together especially when you don't know exactly where you are going - after about 3 hours search time we found our hotel...) anyway- we decided we should get some gas before heading out onto the Autostrade.
So we stop at a small gas station near the outside of town.
Deanna declares it her turn to buy the gas and so I get out of the car and head into the little shop to get some still water ( I had accidentally bought sparking that morning- bleck). So I got my water and the machine gave me back more money than I put in- so I tested it to ensure it was still and when I found it to be I bought another.
Heading back out to the car I settled back into the backseat and pulled out my book and began to read. I look back over my shoulder and see Dee and her sister consulting over a map. Jenna waves me out and I figure they must need some of my directional assistance. Nope.
Deanna asks "How much do you know about cars...?"
Oh dear. "umm not much why??"
"Well... I may have put Diesel in the car."
AH!!!!!!
"hmm okay well I know that is reallllly bad for it.."
"yea..."
" I dunno if we can start it.."
"yea..."
Then the nice Italian attendant comes over and tries to communicate.
He waves his hands around a bit and then pretends to start a car engine- crosses himself and brings his hands together in a prayer type style and then runs his hand across his throat and makes a "bleh" sound.
This translates as if you start the car you better be prayin because it is probably gonna die.
Greeeeat.
So in my mind I'm thinking we have to get that gas out somehow! This is a RENTAL car! Ah! I am thinking of like you know having to suck it out and what not because we HAVE to do something!
"Deanna- how did you even do this??" I was curious- diesel pumps are a different size usually...
"Well... it says gasoline. So I tried it and it didn't fit- so I tried the one next to it and it didn't fit either so Jenna and I thought it might just be a weird pump? They usually only have one diesel thing! and it said Gasoline!"
Oh dear... it wasn't an impossible mistake, I mean when we say gas we usually mean petrol but... man! what were we to do!?
THEN we turn and see the sun shining over the horizon illuminating the most magnificent car shop I've ever seen. Situations make all the difference in cases like this and I can say at that moment it was the best sight we could see.
Deanna and I head over and a nice Italian man in a pink sweater starts to talk to us- he takes us into the big boss who speaks fairly good English and we explain our situation and he totally understands. "Simple mistake. It no clearly marked"
He calls his mechanics- none of whom speak a lick of English.
They head over the car and pop it into neutral and begin pushing it up the sidewalk and then down into the shop.
We go down to try to communicate how long, and how much.
We are attempting to get our questions across for a long while then one guy says "parle vous francais?" and I'm like ah... uh little.
So I attempt to talk to him as best I know how and eventually we get across that he has no idea how long it will take. One hour, 2 hours, three minutes... it all depends. So we leave and go play cards at a small cafe up the road while Deanna drinks some steamed milk.
We head back in about 45 minutes, figure out the cost, get in the (safe and refreshed) car, and take off for Venice.