THE GREEN CAR

THE GREEN CAR

     Montvale Avenue is a busy residential street in the daytime but quiets down considerably as darkness rolls in. Pete and Susan Wicker bought their little home on this street shortly after they were married, and eagerly anticipated raising a family. Alas, after eight years of marriage, there were no children. They still shared lots of wonderful times with all the young families on the street and were determined not to push the issue. 

     One night, Susan got up from bed about one in the morning to go get a drink of water.  She glanced outside the front window as she made her way to the kitchen and noticed a green car slowly passing by the house. Although it was quite late (or early) and the Montvale Avenue was normally empty of traffic at that hour, the sight of a car didn’t faze Susan very much. The next night, Pete got up from bed to use the bathroom and also saw a green car passing slowly by. Like Susan, the sight seemed a little odd to Pete but he paid it no mind.

     Several days passed. On yet another night, Susan remembered that she hadn’t taken a roast out of the freezer. She’d planned to make a large pot roast for a neighborhood gathering the following day. So she got up from bed and went to the kitchen. As she looked out onto the street from the living room, she once again noticed a green car passing slowly in front of the house. This time, she got concerned and told her husband about it. When he commented that he had seen what was possibly the same car a few nights earlier, they decided to do something. However, they didn’t want to overreact by calling the police.

     They decided to stay up and observe the street from midnight until about two, as all three sightings took place during that time frame. No cars passed by. They did the same thing the following night. This time, one car did come down the street a little after midnight.  It was an older red VW. They chalked it up to coincidence.

     About a week passed and Pete came home one day with good news. “Well Susan, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I‘ve been promoted.” Susan was, of course, thrilled.

     “I can’t think of anyone more deserving than you, Pete.  That’s wonderful. But, what is the bad news?”  

     “The bad news is that my promotion is actually a consolidation of positions.  Three people in the office have been given notice.”

     “Oh my gosh. How are they taking it?” 

     “I don’t know. We found out at the end of the day.  It’s not like we didn’t know this was coming. I was pleasantly surprised at the promotion.” 

     “Even though it’s bittersweet, I think we still need to celebrate. Let’s go out!”

     “Say where.”

     That very moment, the doorbell rang. It was Bob Staggart, one of Pete’s co-workers. Pere answered the door. “Bob, this is a surprise.  Please come in!”  Bob Staggart entered the house. He had a serious look on his face. “I think I know what’s wrong, Bob. I’m so sorry.” “Yes, Bob,” Susan said, “It’s hard to know what to say.”

     “Actually,” Bob Staggart commented, “it’s easy to know what to say. Your husband got a big promotion and I got the boot. I’ve worked for that company three years longer than Pete and had an excellent record. It’s just not right!” 

     “Now, calm down, Bob,” Pete interjected.  “You’ll land on your feet.  You’ve got a lot going for you.” Both Pete and Susan could smell alcohol on his breath.

     Actually, it was not surprising to Pete that Bob was let go.  He had the reputation of being a freewheeling playboy. He seemed to take advantage of the company’s expense account and had a mediocre attendance record at company meetings.  He was not the model of a dedicated employee.

     Then, Bob surprised both Pete and Susan when he said, “You know, you both should be celebrating. Why don’t I take you out to dinner.” 

     “That’s very nice of you, Bob,” Susan commented (and very strange as well, she thought), but Pete and I planned to go out alone. We hope you understand.” 

     “I insist that you let me take you out to dinner.” With those words, Bob Staggart pulled out a pistol. 

     “Bob, put that gun away,” Pete said as he pulled Susan behind him.  

     “No, I want to take you some place special.” With this comment, Susan said, “Bob, you’re understandably upset and angry. We had no idea of what the company had in mind.” 

     “Of course you didn’t,” was Bob Staggart’s retort. “Now, let’s get going.”

     “Bob,” Susan said, “I need to change. I’m in my work clothes and need to freshen up a bit.” 

     “You look just fine,” Bob answered back. “Now, let’s go.  You won’t need your purse.”

     Bob led the couple to his car. They were shocked to see a green car that looked just like the one they had noticed passing by their house numerous times during the past several weeks. They made no comment. Fortunately, Susan had her cellphone in her dress pocket but dared not try to use it.  Bob and Pete sat in the front and Susan in the back. She furtively attempted to use her cellphone but was afraid it might make a sound. She even had a 911 app.

     They made their way to a restaurant Bob selected.On the way, Pete made a comment about the car. “It’s a nice one, isn’t it?" Bob shot back. “I got a great deal on it a couple of weeks ago and decided to buy it. It’s very quiet.”  

     The restaurant  Bob had chosen was nice, but probably not one that Pete and Susan would have selected. When they got inside, Pete was aware that Bob had the pistol in his jacket and was unstable enough to use it. They were shown a table. Susan asked Bob if she could go to the restroom. “Sure. But first, I need a hug.”  He wanted to see if she had a cellphone on her. Luckily, during the ride to the restaurant, Susan was able to move the cellphone from her dress pocket to inside a very wide leather belt. As Bob hugged her, it was obvious to her that he was checking for a cellphone in her pockets. He then allowed her to go to the ladies’ room.  “But be quick!” 

     When Susan got to the ladies’ room she immediately called the police and gave them as much information was she could, as quietly as she could.  Soon, she heard a tap on the ladies’ room door. She knew it had to be Bob. She came out and was escorted by Bob to their table.

     “You know, this place isn’t good enough for you two. The menu just isn’t right. Let’s get outta here.”  Bob then gestured for them to get up and he followed them as they left. He sensed that Susan had somehow gotten word to the police. Perhaps, by scribbling a note or something.

     The police, indeed, were on their way to the restaurant.  Bob, Pete, and Susan got in the green car and Bob continued down the highway toward Lake Thomas, a popular spot about fifteen miles outside town.  As they made their way down the road, Bob glanced in the rear view mirrors and noted what seemed to be an unmarked car following them. He sped up some and noted that that the car did the same.

     “Susan, you’re very smart. You found a way to contact the police. I guess dinner’s off.” 

     With that comment, Bob began racing the car down the road.  Pete knew what Bob planned to do.  Bob was going to run the car into the lake.  Pete decided he needed to take a chance. He  grabbed the steering wheel and managed to shift the car into neutral. Susan saw what was happening and put her arms around Bob’s neck. The car careened off the road and into a bushy area where it crashed. 

     The police were there immediately. Ambulances soon followed. Pete and Susan got out of the car, apparently uninjured. Bob was taken from the car and placed in an ambulance.  Pete and Susan were examined by paramedics at the site and were told they should get a check-up just to make sure they were really okay. The police took them back to their house and told them they'd be visiting the next day..

     Bob Staggart lay on a hospital bed.  He was not seriously injured, but did require hospitalization. On the third day of his hospital stay he was surprised when Pete and Susan came to see him. “Bob, we’re glad you’re going to be okay. We’re just fine. We’ve talked with the police and with the District Attorney’s office. We asked them to dismiss the charges against you. We explained the situation. The DA’s office is willing to do so, if you agree to get counselling.” 

     “I’m stunned,” Bob replied. “I deserve to be locked up. What I did was unforgivable. I put lots of people in danger, not just you two. I’m so sorry.”  He then began to cry. 

     Pete walked over to the bed and took one of Bob’s hands.“You’re going to be fine, Bob.”

     Even during his time in the hospital, Bob Staggart began receiving therapy. When he was released, he continued for a while, but then, one day, he just left town. Pete and Susan kept up with him, and were both shocked and disappointed that he just walked away. They were also concerned. They were concerned enough to move from their little neighborhood.  Even if Bob had not left town, they had decided that the neighborhood just didn’t feel the same.  Neighbors expressed concern that Bob might do something yet.

About six months after their ordeal with Bob, Pete and Susan settled into a new neighborhood and made new friends. One day, one of their neighbors came over. “Pete and Susan, I want you to see what I just bought. I got a great deal on it.”  The neighbor walked them outside and they gasped when they saw a green car in the neighbor’s driveway that looked almost exactly like Bob’s car. It was obviously not the same car, as Bob’s car was totaled in the wreck.

     “Pete and Susan, you’re such good neighbors. Pam and I decided we wanted to take you out to eat. And, I’ll admit I want to show off my new car a little. It’s actually not new new, but it’s in great shape. I'snt it a beaut?". 

     Pete managed to eke out a compliment and then said, “Paul, I’m very happy for you.  We’d love to join you and Pam, but tonight might not be the best night.” 

     “Oh, I’m sorry. Maybe another time.”

     “Yes, some other time would be great.”

     As Pete and Susan walked back to their house, they thought about facing their fears and putting the incident with Bob and with the green car behind them. They turned around, and Susan said, "Paul, we’ve changed our minds. If the invitation is still on, we’d love to join you and Pam.”

     So, Susan and Pete climbed into the back of Paul and Pam’s car and made their way to a restaurant. This time, Paul asked for Susan and Pete’s suggestion. The did not choose the restaurant Bob had picked out. On the way, Susan commented, “By the way, we’re going to be having a new addition to our house as well.” 

      “Oh,” Pam asked, “are you getting a new car also?” 

      “No,” Susan replied, “We’re having a baby.”