"Friday, finally" I said to my friend Lisa at work that morning. "I thought this week would never end!"
"I know what you mean Claire, it's this heat, it makes everything go so slowly" She pushed her fringe back from her forehead for perhaps the twentieth time that day.
And it had been unbearably hot too – we weren't exaggerating. In fact it was so hot; I had opted to go without underwear for most of the week, hoping that it wouldn't be too obvious beneath my short skirt suits.
We worked slowly for the rest of the day until eventually, after what seemed liked an eternity, we left the office at 5pm.
I walked with Lisa to her car and waved her off, wishing her a good weekend, then walked to the bus stop.
"I can't wait till my car is fixed" I thought as I waited "these buses are so smelly and uncomfortable in this weather."
As I stood under the bus shelter, I watched people drive by in their cars, cooled by their air conditioning, oblivious to the suffering of everybody else out in the heat. Just then though, my own car rode by, driven by one of the mechanics who was fixing it. I guessed he must have fixed it and was test driving it before letting me know it was done.
A few minutes later he came back round the block and pulled up at the kerb in front of me.
"Hi Ma'am" he shouted from the driving seat "all fixed, jump in and I'll take you back to the garage to pay us"
Why would I hesitate – within ten minutes I could have my car back and drive home in comfort – I hopped into the passenger seat, immediately appreciating the air con which the mechanic had turned on full.
It was only a short drive to the garage, and I hopped out quickly when we got there, eager to pay and get home so I could start enjoying the weekend. I headed for the little garage in back and knocked on the door.
"Come in" shouted a voice.
I pushed the door open, "Hi" I said to the guy behind the desk. He was a broad, mean looking black man, and I left the door open behind me, fearing being alone with him. "I've come to pay for the repairs on my car"
"Great" He smiled, "let me just work out your bill"
He pulled out some papers then, and as I hovered nervously by the door he tapped figures into his calculator.
"It comes out at a total of £1,983.74, please." He didn't look up, just started writing the final amount on my paperwork.
My jaw dropped "How much! How on earth do you justify that!? That's so much money – I can't afford it!" I screamed at him.
Without looking up from his desk, he calmly told me that that was the final amount and if I wanted my car back I would have to pay it.
"But I just told you, I can't afford that!" I was fuming by now, getting more and more worked up by the second, but trying to remain calm before the massive black man.
"That's too bad, I guess we'll be keeping your car" He looked up now and grinned nastily at me. "Unless...."
"Unless what?" I regretted asking the second the words left my lips. I knew exactly what he meant by the evil glint in his eyes. "You've gotta be kidding me" I laughed nervously