3rd Party Insurance

He hesitated. Looking up through the rear view mirror he saw slim curling stretches of smoke rising from the car he had just reversed in to.

His fingers were damp with sweat as he slopped about his glove compartment for his details and insurance cards and whatever else he needed. The police from earlier before was also fast approaching. Marching toward the accident with an unbelievable heir of foolishness.

Pulling at the handle he shoved the door of his not Red Porshe, but rather Red Kia Picanto, and stumbled towards the smoke.

Anticipating anything. Hoping he had his shoes on.

Thank god, his shoes were on.

Temporary relief. Unyielding heart throbbing.

The woman in the car had clearly been asleep. Bags under her eyes hung heavily from her scratchy red eyes and slightly tussled hair.

“Sorry, yes, sorry mmm. The engine isn’t working? Smoke, well obviously. Did I say sorry?” Victor mumbled. “You were asleep though, you weren’t paying attention.”

“There isn’t much to pay attention to when someone reverses into your car!” The woman retorted.

“Yes, well here are my details. I don’t know what im really supposed to do but you can just grab these papers and envelopes and let me know what they say.”

“I am not going to read your documents,” the woman said plainly.

Victor eyes shifted, he felt like his feet were naked. His car details were soaking now from the relentless sweat pouring from his palms.

“Maybe you can call a mechanic and have them come over and fix it?” the woman asked.

“Yes, mmm of course. But ah yes!” The glorious moment Victor remembered. He had 3^rd party insurance!

“I have 3^rd party insurance!!” Why am I shouting it?

“It is my car which has been wrecked,’ the woman said plainly, again. “I think it would be ok if you just got a mechanic and paid for the damages.”

“Mechanic, mmm yes that is a good solu-“

“Mastah u r being arrested for causing dis assident!”

Victor felt his naked toes cringe in the burning beach sand. He looked down again, and only saw his over worn sneakers. Where was he even going? Why had he not been in drive but in reverse rather? What was he doing now?

He was shaking the police officer’s hand, his mouth was flapping, letters blurting out of his lips, words conjuring some possible way out of this odd predicament.

Run.

Dread.

Just run.

“SIR!”

“Mastah!!”

“Sorry, police officer the woman has agreed that everything is fine. Yes?” Nodding toward the woman, she nodding back. “No need for any arrest we have solved this issue civilly.”

That sounded smart.

“Nah, assident happen I for report am, and arrest you.” The policeman insisted.

The woman intervened.

“Mr Police officer, that is not necessary, we have sorted the situation out no need for any arrests.”

She is kind of cute.

“NO! ASSIDENT HAPPEN I FOR REPORT AM!” The policeman spat bluntly.

Victor, felt the heat of the beach sand, his feet naked and exposed. He rushed over into his car, grabbed his wallet and stuffed its contents in the policeman’s hands. The policeman spied Victor for a moment, nodded his head then lent some sort of caution to Victor about something unworthy of remembrance.

“Thank you ma’am.”

“Name is Charlotte, so should I stay and wait for you or follow you over to the mechanics?”

“Oh, mmmm ……”

Victor feet shoveled under the beach sand.

“If you feel safe leaving your car here, in front of the church. Should be safe. Yeh.”

Feet out of hot beach sand.

Walking over the gentle dunes back to the mainland.