You weren’t paying attention.
Yeah, I pushed the garbage can into the mirror. I should have called the insurance company about it, but I’m sure the people there are tired of hearing from me.
When I go back into the house, I hear the phone ringing, and at first, I’m not sure what I’m hearing. So few people have called these last few months.
Except for telemarketers hawking phone service, mortgages, and something about a fire safety house for kids. You donated to that one.
Anything for the kids.
The phone is still ringing.
I know it’s not Noël’s family—or mine. I’ve asked them to leave me alone for a while until I can…function, and they’ve respected my wishes for the most part, Noël’s family especially. I’m sure deep down they still blame me for everything and wish that I had died instead of their only child and grandchild.
You’re not thinking those thoughts again, are you?
No.
Good. I like talking to you.
You’re the only one who does.
I check the Caller ID as it rings on. It’s not long distance and can’t be the school. Who else would be calling on Christmas Day?
“Hello?”
“Is this Jack Browning?” The man has a voice full of gravel.
“Yes.”
“This is Bill Williams. Hope I’m not disturbing your Christmas.”
It’s too late for that. But who is—oh. It’s the man who bought Noël’s car. “You’re not disturbing me, Mr. Williams. How’s the car running?”
“I’m bringing it back.”
“Why?”
“It’s got a shimmy.”
“A shimmy?”
“A shimmy. It was wobbling all over the place.”
“When?”
“When I was taking it home.”
“But that was…four days ago.”
“Yep. Just haven’t had the time to bring her back until today.”
Oh, geez. He had to say “her.”
Come on, Jack. He’s a Marine. Anything that carries him somewhere is female.
I grip the phone tightly. “I don’t understand, Mr. Williams. You said that you were taking the car to your own mechanic to get it checked out, and I told you I’d hold on to the check until you had done that. Has your mechanic checked it out yet?”
“Uh, no.”
“He hasn’t?”
“No, but I don’t want to purchase the vehicle anymore because of that shimmy.”
That car doesn’t shimmy. That car is rock solid. “Well, look, Mr. Williams, it hadn’t been driven in a long time. Perhaps one of the tires is lower on air pressure than the others. Did you check the tires?”
“I know a shimmy when I feel one, young man.”
Think! “Well, you know those are after-market wheels on that vehicle, and my wife was always saying that they weren’t as perfectly balanced as the original, so—”
“Will you be home today? It’s the only day I can get another driver.”
But I only want memories visiting me today! “Were you driving it, Mr. Williams?”
“No, my grandson was.”
“Your grandson was?” During the test-drive, the grandson proved that he couldn’t drive a five-speed.
He couldn’t even find reverse.
“Perhaps your grandson was in the wrong gear going up or down a hill.”
“He wasn’t. I was sitting right there next to him telling him when to shift. Now will you be home today? I want to come get my check.”
But of course! The check! It’s all about the money.
It’s not that I need the money. It’s the principle of the thing. A man should keep his word. “I’ll be…I’ll be home all day, but please reconsider. My wife babied that car. You know how clean it is inside, and she had the oil changed religiously every three thousand miles.”
“I’m concerned about the shimmy.”
This man is fixated on the word “shimmy.” Maybe it’s a World War II thing.
“I understand your concern, I really do, but that car is safe. I wouldn’t have sold it to you otherwise. And anyway, you said you were taking it to your—”
“I know what I said, and now I’m saying that I’m bringing it back today.”
I can’t have that car back here, all sunny and yellow and full of Noël! Not today! “Look, it’s been sitting in the driveway for two months, I haven’t been driving it, so it’s possible—”
“And the back windows leak.”
And now it’s about the windows! “I told you about the back windows, and you didn’t seem concerned then. All you were concerned with was getting the car to your home because you knew you were getting a good deal.”
“And now I’m bringing it back. Will you be there, say, around three?”
This can’t be happening! “I know you want a safe car for your grandson. I understand that. What I don’t understand is how you’re not being a man of your word. I told you I would hold on to the check until your mechanic checked it out. I’m doing my part—”
“I got the law on my side, young man.”
The law? What law? “The lemon law?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Mr. Williams, that law doesn’t apply to this situation at all. That’s only for car dealerships.”
“That’s not what I’ve heard.”
Geez! “Can you do me a favor, Mr. Williams? Can you take the car to your mechanic first and have him check it out like you said you would, and if your mechanic, whom you obviously trust, finds major problems, then we’ll—”
“My grandson says he doesn’t feel safe in it, and neither do I. We’ll see you at three.”
“Sir, you’re taking the word of an eighteen-year-old driver who had difficulty finding the reverse gear during the test-drive.”
“He was just nervous.”
“I know he was nervous, but he was giving us all whiplash. And legally, you have the title, signed by both parties—”
“You know that isn’t really a legal document, Mr. Browning. You had to forge your own wife’s signature!”
I can’t catch my breath. “Because she’s…dead that’s why, and I told you why that day, and you said you understood.”
“I don’t want any trouble, Mr. Browning, and this car has trouble written all over it.”
I sigh. Noël would have already said “Cool, Mr. Williams, bring it back. We understand.” And Noël wouldn’t want me to sell her “baby” to anyone like Mr. Williams or his gear-stripping grandson. “Okay, Mr. Williams, bring the car back, and don’t forget to bring the title. I’ll be here waiting.”
I turn off the phone, tossing it onto the sofa. “Unbelievable. I should have deposited