One of those days: Part 5

                                                              One of Those Days

                                                                     Part Five

                                                           Verne's Auto Reepair!


“Oh, thank you, sir!”  Merai smiled at the policeman.

The trooper looked at Kadie and gave a low whistle.  “Wow, they sure don't make them like this anymore!”  He looked the car over appreciatively.  “She's in really nice shape too!  Well...”  his eyes came to rest on the back tire.  “relatively speaking” he smiled.  The former front tire obscured the quill punctured section from his vision.

He walked over to check on the loose wheel and squeezed it with his paw.  “Ah, the old flat spare gag!  I think that's why they invented the doughnut.  People would get a flat tire, put on the spare, and then forget they needed to repair the original tire, that's too bad!”

Merai wanted to say something, but thought better of it, she merely smiled in embarrassment and nodded.

“Well, most of us don't make the same mistake twice!  Oh, I see a temporary plate, did you just buy her?”

The porcupine nodded.

“Ah, sorry about that, I guess you didn't get around to checking it out then?”

“Well, this is the first time I've taken her for a spin...”

The trooper grimaced sympathetically.  “Ouch, not the greatest way to start off new ownership!”

The arrival of a flat bed tow truck ended further conversation.  A short brown-furred beaver with impressive white front teeth hopped out of the cab.  His clean, but battered grey overalls spoke of an individual who worked hard for a living.  They also proudly proclaimed his name in bold blue script stitch work, “Verne”

“Afternoon, offic'r Samson!  How's Delilah, still cuttin' yer hair I see!” drawled the beaver.

The trooper paused for a moment studying the beaver.  “You know, Verne, you're lucky I know you better than that, otherwise I'd have to figure out something to run you in on.  Anyways, I'll tell Deborah that you said “Hi.””  The doberman shook his head and grinned.

The trooper turned back to Merai.  “Well, you're in good hands now, ma'am.  Verne's a little rough around the edges, but he does good work, their garage is well equipped and you'll be on the road again in no time!  Well, I'd better get back to patrol.  Drive safely, and I hope the rest of your trip goes a lot smoother from now on!”

“Take good care of her, Verne!” he said as he returned to his cruiser and merged back to the highway.

“Good afternoon, ma'am, my name's Verne, o' Verne's auto Reepair!”  he offered his hand.

“Pleased to meet you, Verne, my name is Merai, and this,” she pointed towards the car “Is Kadie.”

“Well, let's see whut we has here?”  The beaver walked over to the car.  “My she's a purty one, ain't she?”

“Thank you!” replied Merai.

“Well let's see if we can't get her rolling agin, I see y'all got started without me, this should only take a sec.”  The beaver rolled the “spare” tire away from the side of the car, but paused and frowned.  He leaned down on it, squishing it a bit.  “Shucks, yer spare's flat too, well that don't beat all.  Hmmm,” the beaver thought for a moment.  “I might just have yer solution right here.”

Merai flushed a bit at the “flat spare” comment, but decided that silence was more prudent at this time.

The beaver rolled the tire to his truck, pulled out a toolbox and turned on a small air compressor.  “Why go to the garage, if we can do business in nice clean air and sunshine!”