[Critique Group 1] Cleora's November Submission

[sitting.duck at springmail.com]

1019 words
I Never Saw That Before
by c. s. boyd

Dusty, Claudia's cockatiel, began to merrily whistle his version of "Yankee  Doodle." 

"What's that?" asked Janet.

"That's my bird," said Claudia.

"I never heard him do that before," said Janet as she turned to go to the bird and tell him how handsome  he was.

Claudia looked up in surprise. Dusty had been doing that since shortly after she brought him home three years ago and started whistling the tune to him, but, this time, she didn't remind Janet. Janet who had been Claudia's care giver for the last three years had been there when Dusty first started whistling the tune. Janet had begun doing that more and more lately.

"Depending on the mail, I'm thinking about having my car inspected and getting my car tags today," said Claudia. "Do you remember where that inspection place we took it to last year is?"

"Yes, but it will cost $20. I don't know if you want to pay that much," said Janet.

"It cost $7 last year."

"It's $20," argued Janet.

Claudia opened the spreadsheet of credit card transactions for 2019 and checked. "It was $7 last year."

"Okay," said Janet. She helped Claudia into the car and they went to the post office. Janet got out and went in to check the mail. A short time later, Claudia heard a tap on her window. She rolled down the window.

"One of them isn't yours. Do I have to stand in line to give it back, or can I just drop it in the mail?" asked Janet.

"You can just push it through the slot onto the floor, and one of the postal personnel will pick it up and put it in the correct box," said Claudia.

"Oh, good," said Janet and hurried away.

Claudia took a deep breath and breathed it out. It was interesting that Janet could remember to check through the mail for pieces that weren't Claudia's, but she never remembered what to do with the ones that weren't hers.

Janet got back in the car and handed her the mail. There wasn't much. "Let's go ahead and get the car inspected at the same place as last time."

"It'll cost $20. I don't know if you want to pay that much."

Claudia groaned mentally. "Ok, well, do you remember how to get to the place I always used to go?"

"Yes, but they closed."

"No, that was just for that one afternoon."

"I thought they closed for good."

"Do you remember how to get there?"

"Yes. It's at I20 and Westcreek."

"Well, let's go by there and see." Claudia was sure it would be open and it would be easier to go there than try to convince Janet the business was still open.

"I can picture it in my mind but I can't remember how to get there. This is so frustrating. I've lived here all my life. I can picture places in my mind so clearly, but for the life of me, I can't remember how to get there."

"McCart and Westcreek cross. We can go down Alta Mesa, here,  to McCart. Then, turn left onto McCart and turn left onto Westcreek when we get to where they cross."

They started down Alta Mesa and successfully turned onto McCart. When they got to Westcreek, Janet kept going straight. "I'm staying on McCart to get to I20," she announced.

"Westcreek goes to I20. It's out of the way to stay on McCart and backtrack."

Janet made a U-turn and started back up McCart to Westcreek. "Ok, I'll go back." Claudia could tell she was miffed.

When they got to Westcreek and I20, Janet asked what the name of the place was. "Tom Guess Texaco, or something like that. It is back behind the other stations."

"I see it," said Janet. Then she proceeded to park 20 feet or more from the door claiming that there were pols and she didn't think they could get out if she parked at the door.

Claudia knew that was wrong, but said nothing. Janet helped her out of the car and they walked up to the building. "He's not wearing a mask," Janet said. Claudia got out her own mask and put it on. "Can you do an inspection for us today?" she asked the attendant.

"Yep," said the attendant.

"What do you need from me?" asked Claudia.

"Proof of insurance."

With Janet's help, Claudia found and handed him her proof of insurance and the keys.

They sat down to wait. Shortly, the attendant returned and said the car had passed inspection. he explained that cars over 25 years old no longer have to pass an emission test.

"I knew there was some reason for keeping that car," said Claudia with a grin. She paid the $7 for the inspection, and they went out to get in the car that was parked in front of the door exactly where Claudia had been sure it could have been parked to begin with. On the way back, they stopped at Kroger's so she could get the car tags. Claudia decided to pick up some groceries while there.

"We can go to the information window and get the tags first. Maybe they can also check out the groceries while we are there."

"Do you want to check out first, or get the tags first?" asked Janet.

Again, Claudia groaned internally. "Whatever you want to do," she said.

Janet put them in a checkout line. After checking out, they went to the information window and got the car tags.

Back home they put away the groceries and read as much as they could of the mail. There had been several envelopes related to new medical insurance that Claudia was being forced to take out.  "Well, if the care giver tomorrow doesn't do it, we can finish this up Friday."

Janet clocked out and left.  Claudia wished her a good evening and turned to go into the house. I wonder if today was an act or if she really is losing it, Claudia asked herself silently.