by Patricia51 and Dotrice
(The format of this is a little different. We each wrote a complete chapter from our own viewpoint covering the same events. So we have edited and combined them. The first person speaker is identified each time in parentheses above their part. Hope you like it. Tell us.)
(Dorothy)
I was traveling through the South; no destination, no goal. My trusty 1995 Saturn gave it up just outside Savannah, GA. Well, I was told for $3000 I could get it to limp back home. For that much I figured I could get another used car. The girl at the tire dealer I went to for a quick look at my car said a deputy Sheriff had a decent used pickup for sale and even offered to call to see if it was still available.
She chatted forever with whoever she was talking to and I noticed her looking at my legs in my short shorts and my not too obvious breasts in halter. Fun at truck stops but a bit too exotic for this little town, I suppose. She hung up and came to me smiling, "Sorry, Matt's not home. But his wife said she has the time to show you the truck. It's a bit out of town. I offered to drive you after work. Patti said she was coming to town anyway and should be here in about ten minutes."
I asked if there was someplace I could store my bags and she said in the trunk would be fine. Helping me with my bags in the back seat she noticed the rainbow emblem suspended from my mirror. I heard her say under her breath, "Won't Patti be surprised." I laughed and she blushed a bit. Brightening I said, "By the way, my name is Dorothy, Dot to friends," "Laura, happy to meet you, Dorothy," she said a little nervously.
(Patti)
I was fixing my second glass of ice tea and eyeing the pile of dirty dishes in the sink with extreme distaste when the phone rang. I caught it on the second ring.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Hi Patti, this is Laura down at Tire World," came a familiar voice. "Is Matt there?"
"No Laura, he had court today and should have just gone on patrol. What is it?" I smiled. Trust Laura to ask for my husband first. Long ago we had gone to high school together and we had both shared a crush on him. Matt's break from the first part of his Army service had coincided with my college graduation and we had married. Laura, although happily married herself, had never quite got over that crush I thought.
"Patti, there's a woman traveling through who's car has had pretty well had it. It really would cost more to fix it than its worth. Do y'all still have that old pickup for sale?"
"Sure do Laura," I replied. We chatted a bit longer. She offered to bring the woman out to the house after work. I decided that there were always errands to run in town so I would drive it down there instead. I was sure I could get Laura or someone else to bring me home if things all worked out. I slipped my sandals on and debated the merits of putting a bra on under my sundress. Deciding I would only be seeing Laura and another woman I decided against it. With a sneer at the sink I got the keys and left.
The red Dodge pickup had been passed down from my husband to our two boys in turn. With them grown and out of the house we had bought a new truck. Since we were offered basically nothing as a trade in for the old one we had decided to sell it ourselves. Long hours of riding with all my guys and animated discussions around the dinner table had left me pretty knowledgeable about the truck and I thought I could do a good job selling it.
I pulled up in the parking lot of the tire/auto repair shop and hopped out as soon as I stopped. I saw Laura and an unfamiliar blonde woman standing over by a car with out of state tags. Wisconsin, I thought, she's a long way from home. I walked over to them.
(Dorothy)