Smart Car
by Doug Hawley
39: All the Cars
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One oddly warm and dry day
Carl went to the front door of his people’s
house and called for Duke and Sheila to come out.
“Hey guys, I’m going to the lake to see
my new friend Zeke the smart boat. Want to
come along.”
Sheila told him “Sorry I’m, busy
writing music for my group Whimsy.”
Duke also demurred “I’m trying to top
the highest known prime number, so I’m out
too.”
The cars Deuce and Josie were more amenable.
They had nothing better to do while their people
were busy, so they tagged along.
At the lake Carl signaled Zeke. Zeke
motored back to the dock where Duke waited.
“Hey Carl, what’s up?”
“Not much Zeke, things were slow back at
people’s place. Thought I’d drop
in on my new friend, if it is convenient.”
“Great, good to see you. I just got
back from Seaside on the coast with my people.
We all took a quick dip in the Pacific, the
people had some burgers and beer and we headed
back.”
Deuce and Josie had hung back but started to honk
and sing. “Carl and Zeke come with me
to the sea, the sea of love” to the tune of
a twentieth century song followed up by another
oldie “Down By The River”.
Carl traded some messages with the other two cars,
which became silent. Zeke asked “What
was that about?”
Carl responded “Oh those guys are giving me
a hard time because I’ve got a new friend.
Ignore them; they’re jealous. Mind if
I tag along with you? I can go into
submarine mode. That way I avoid those
killjoys for a while.”
“OK, you can go underneath while I stay on
the surface.”
For the first ten minutes Carl and Zeke enjoyed
their adventure zigzagging through the lake, but
then Carl drove up on the shore and then over to
where Deuce and Josie were.
Deuce asked “Hey we thought you were having
fun with Zeke what happened?”
“Promise you won’t tell our people?”
Josie said “OK.”
“Following Zeke underwater made me seasick.”
Josie started laughing and was followed by Deuce.
This went on for five minutes while Carl was
silent. When they finally quit, Carl said
“Cut it out.”
Deuce said “We promised we wouldn’t
tell our people, we didn’t say anything
about not laughing at you.”
Carl responded “Just for that I may not tell
you or the people what I found at the bottom of
the lake.”*
Carl was irritated for a full week, but finally
got over it, and the all the cars were friends
again.
*The reader isn’t learning either
because the author with a brain impaired by Men
In Black and being abducted to Sunset City / God’s
Waiting Room doesn’t know either. He’ll
write another episode when he comes up with
something.
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