Maureen was young, pretty and in a hurry.
That's probably why she backed her father's BMW straight into the side of the car parked opposite her. She came flying full pace out of her parking spot and delivered a very nice crunch to the old car that was unfortunate enough to be there.
She hesitated and glanced around. No-one there. She shrugged and went on her way.
Arriving home, Maureen rushed to see her father.
"It happened in the parking lot, Daddy," she explained, tears in her eyes. "I got back to the car and someone had hit the back of it. They didn't leave a note or anything."
Her father groaned and went out to inspect the damage. "Don't worry about it too much, sweetheart," he told his distraught daughter. "As far as I can see it's just the tail-light broken. The bumper bar appears to have absorbed the collision and just bounced out. It'll cost a hundred or so but it's not even worth putting in a claim."
After calming Maureen, Ted Jensen called his dealer and had the car booked for repairs. Then he retired to his office, grumbling about careless fools who rush around car parks.
Later that afternoon the doorbell sounded and, on answering, Ted found George Mixar, the son of one of his friends, waiting.
"Hullo, George," greeted Ted. He smiled. "I assume that you're here to see Maureen, not me."
"That I am," agreed Ted. "Is she home?"
"She is. Come on in," Ted invited. "Do try not to argue with her today, won't you. I don't know why the two of you always wind up fighting."
"Personality clash, I guess, Mr. Jensen. Say, I noticed that your car has a broken tail light. Did you know that?"
"I did," grunted Ted. "Some idiot in the car park. I don't know who."
"That's too bad," sympathised George. "Funny enough the same thing happened to me this morning. I was driving my old banger while my proper car was being serviced, and someone ploughed into it and just took off. I was luckier than you though. I was looking out the window of the coffee shop and saw the driver."
Ted looked at George. He had a nasty feeling about where this was going.
George shrugged apologetically. "Sorry, Mr. Jensen, but it was your BMW and Maureen driving. And it wasn't just a gentle nudge. She caved in both doors on the driver's side. It's a good thing that old banger wasn't worth much, because it's now worth nothing.
While I'm bringing the bad news, I'd better tell you to get your BMW checked carefully. You could easily have some structural damage hidden away."
Ted sighed and sent some nasty thoughts winging towards Maureen.
"You'd better come into the office, lad, and I'll give you a cheque to cover the damages."
"No need to bother, Mr. Jensen. The old bomb was only worth a couple of hundred as scrap, and I've already collected that from the wreckers. No, what I want is to have a word or two with Maureen, if you don't mind."
"I don't think you need to bother, lad," grunted Ted. "I'll be having a few words with her myself."
"And she'll cry and you'll go to water. You're too soft on her and you know it. I'm different. I'll lay it straight on the line to her. Actually, if you hadn't been home Maureen would probably be across my knee right now getting that spanking she's been deserving for the past couple of years."
Ted glared at George. "I think I know how to handle my daughter," he snapped.
"Maybe," said George, not yielding an inch, "but that little stunt this morning was a criminal offence. Several actually. Careless driving, failing to stop after an accident, failure to exchange name and address and probably others."
Ted continued to glare at George, knowing he had a couple of good points. Ted knew he did tend to spoil his daughter, and she had caused an accident and lied to him about it. She was an adult, he decided. Let's see if she could resolve her own problem.
"Well," he snapped, "I can't stand here discussing this with you all day. I have to take my car to the dealers." He headed for the door, lifting the keys off the peg. As he left he turned and called to his daughter.
"Maureen, George is here. He has something he wants to discuss with you."
Maureen came slouching down the hall to greet George.
"Uh, it's you," she grunted. "What do you want?"
George smiled. "I was just telling your dad about that little accident you had this morning," he told her softly.
Maureen snapped to attention. "You saw that?" she asked. "What did you tell Dad?"
"Just that I saw you plough into a parked car and then take off without stopping," she was informed, George smiling all the time.
Maureen exploded. "You interfering bastard," she stormed. "Why'd you have to go and do that. He's going to be so mad at me now."
George's smile grew wider. "No madder than the owner of the car you ploughed under," he pointed out. "He is really pissed at you."