After months and months of begging, pleading and threatening, my mom finally gave in and let me drive to college by myself. Being a single-parent and having only one 20-yr old car meant that she couldn't risk me damaging it or worse, totaling it. I used to work at a local gas station during the day and attended a local community college in the evening. Between our two meager incomes, we got by.
It was my first semester at the college and I was very excited to be among my peers and in an environment of learning. Having the independence and the mobility also gave me a lot of confidence. However, confidence can easily slip into overconfidence. I realized this when I was returning from college one night. Having worked all day and then attending classes till late night made me tired and the pouring rain didn't help either. As I made a turn into my neighborhood, I didn't slow down quite enough and my over-correction caused the tires to skid and come to a stop before grazing past a parked car.
I immediately got off the car to see the damage on both cars especially the parked one. There was a dent on the rear door of the other car and barely a scratch on my sturdy old car. I looked around to see if anyone saw the incident. At this hour of the night and in such pouring rain, there was not a soul on the street. I wanted to drive away but, I saw the light in the window turn on. I could still make it but the fear that if the person got out and noted my license plate number, I would be in bigger trouble. I decided to stay and confess and of course beg and plead for mercy. The damage to the car wasn't much but then if the incident ever came to mom's notice through the insurance company, I would lose the car forever.
The car belonged to Jenna Robinson. An uptight lady in the neighborhood who nobody talked to and she didn't talk to anyone. The gossip around the neighborhood was that her husband had left her. Not divorced, not separated, but just left. Apparently, the mild-mannered guy couldn't take it any longer and one day he just got up and left leaving a note that simply read "I can't take it anymore."
I walked over to the house and rang the bell. A few moments later, a woman in her night robe opened the door. She was in her 40s. She had a straight nose, clear blue eyes and full pink lips. She had a curvy figure and an air of authority about her. I hadn't paid attention earlier, but Mrs. Robinson was indeed beautiful. I was appreciating how tall she was when she almost caught me staring at her bosom.
"Hello, mam." I am Zack. "I... couldn't see clearly in the rain and as I was making a turn ..." she didn't let me finish and said, "I heard the loud bang."
"There is a minor dent...almost a scratch" I said, stressing the word "minor" as much as I could and the word dent as little.
"Let's take a look" she said grabbing an umbrella and started walking towards the car.
I followed behind her.