The drive to Mary's home would take about 15 minutes normally, but now, with the rush hour traffic, it was quite likely that it was going to take considerably longer.
Mary sat in the front passenger seat, next to Mrs. Brown and looked around her at the other cars and at the pedestrians all hurrying to be somewhere else. It had begun to rain quite heavily and Mary felt glad to be inside a nice, warm car. Normally, she would either have gone home by bus or, in the summer months, she would have cycled in to school. In fact, she had hoped to have her own car by now – like many of her classmates – but failing her driving test a few weeks ago had meant that had to go on temporary hold.
Getting cleaned up in Mrs. Brown's office had not been the ordeal that Mary had imagined. Mrs. Brown had helped her remove the gummy, streaked eye makeup and had assisted her to disguise the tear tracks and any other marks that shouldn't have been there. Then, with a quick application of her hairbrush, Mary had completed the process and they were ready. No mention had been made of Mary's little indiscretion and Mary was hoping in her heart-of-hearts that it would all blow over.
Once she had cleaned herself up, Mary had said that she was alright and that honestly, she could get the bus. But Mrs. Brown told her that as it was virtually on her way, she would drop Mary off before going on to her own home. Now, watching the rain streaming down the windscreen and at the wipers swishing across the screen with a rhythmic slap, slap, slap, slap, Mary was glad that she had relented and accepted the proffered lift.
Sitting in the bumper to bumper traffic, edging along at little more than walking pace sometimes, the two women chatted on amiably – almost like old friends in fact - about things in general and indeed, when they got on to the subject of men and boys, Mrs Brown even cracked a joke at which they both laughed uproariously. Mary felt relaxed and happy. She knew she had done wrong and she knew that things would not – could not – ever be exactly the same again, but right now she just felt good being in Mrs. Brown's company. She sighed unconsciously.
'Are you okay, Mary?' asked Mrs. Brown 'I know this traffic is murder, but really, I'm afraid it can't be helped.' she said.
'No.' Said Mary almost dreamily 'Its not the traffic, its just – well – its just that I was thinking....' Her voice trailed off into silence and, when she didn't continue, Mrs Brown said
'What were you thinking, Mary?' 'Would you like to tell me about it?'
Mary was only kind of half listening to her teacher. The slow, rhythmic slap, slap, slap of the wipers, coupled with the welcoming warmth inside the car and the subdued background music from the car's radio were making Mary drowsy and she found it all that she could do to concentrate on what Mrs. Brown was saying and upon actually staying awake. She yawned absently.
'Are you tired Mary?' Asked Mrs. Brown 'Why not take a nap if you wish – I'll wake you when we're there. It'll take ages yet with this traffic – there must have been an accident somewhere, to cause a snarl-up like this......'
Mrs. Brown depressed the clutch, selected first gear and eased the car forward another ten yards or so, before once more braking gently to a halt, taking the transmission out of gear and applying the handbrake. She looked across at Mary again to see if the girl had heard what she'd said a moment ago about taking a nap and was amused to see that Mary was already asleep, her head turned towards Mrs. Brown and resting on her right shoulder. She was snoring ever so gently. Mrs Brown Smiled..........
'Damn!' Said Mrs. Brown under her breath so that she wouldn't wake Mary. ' That's all we need – a bloody accident! I knew it!'
They had made terribly slow progress for the last few minutes and now it was blatantly obvious why! The traffic policeman up ahead was directing traffic away from what was an obvious accident site - and the direction that they wished to go – and Mrs. Brown knew that the diversion that was now being offered would take then quite a way out of their way and would add about half an hour to their journey. She thought of her options for a few moments; decided she didn't really have any and slumped dejectedly into her seat and began to run through the coming route in her mind – noting every hold up and delay that she just knew they would end up with. She made a decision.
When next they stopped in traffic, Mrs. Brown gently shook Mary awake and told her of their predicament and of the traffic diversion.
'So there you have it Mary.' Said Mrs. Brown finally 'Its going to take us ages to get home at this rate. Your folks will be worrying about you – would you like to use my mobile and give them a ring?'
Mary rubbed the sleep out of one eye, yawned, stretched her arms over her head as best she could inside the car and this caused her breasts to thrust out boldly against her blouse her nipples being just visible through her clothing. She looked at Mrs. Brown and said 'No, that's okay thanks Mrs. Brown, I've got my own phone with me and anyway, my mom and dad are away this weekend and there's only my big brother and me at home. Matter of fact, he's coming up from Uni. for the weekend – to "look after me" – because my mom is such a worrier. But he won't arrive until about 10 tonight, so there's no panic. But thanks anyway.'
Mary's stomach suddenly made a rumbling, gurgling sound and she rubbed it self consciously to try to stop it doing it again and hoped Mrs. Brown hadn't noticed. But the teacher said
'Sounds like you're hungry young lady! How about if we stop off at my house and I can fix you a sandwich or something? This traffic isn't going to ease much for the next hour or so, so we may as well take a break and I'll take you home once this lots gone! How does that sound?'
Mary was reluctant at first, feeling a little intimidated by the older woman's worldly wise grasp on just about everything – or so it seemed to Mary – but then her stomach gave another loud growl and the two women looked at each other and both grinned broadly.
'Okay.' said Mary. If you're sure its no bother? I must admit, I am quite hungry.'
Mrs brown checked her rear view mirror and indicated a right turn. A few yards further on, she turned off the congested main road and into a much quieter side street. A few more twists and turns and suddenly, they were pulling up in the driveway of a nice detached house. Mrs. Brown turned off the car and both women got out.
'Here we are.' Said Mrs. Brown. She aimed the remote control at the car, pressed a button and locked its doors. Then, selecting another key on the same bunch, she opened her front door, crossed the threshold and, standing to one side once inside, she invited Mary in to her home.