The Rover by Kajakat "Hi Vince." "Hi Johnny?" Vince Howard said as he slowly walked toward John Gage. "I got a call about a stolen car. Was that you who called it in?" Johnny couldn't get the words of his mouth. He shook his head up and down. If anyone on the street saw his expression, they would have thought Johnny lost his best friend. "Hmmm. When was the last time you saw it?" Vince asked as he took out his jotter. "I drove over to You Bowl Me Over….." "Bowling alley so early?" "Well yeah, I was getting my bowling ball fixed." 'Fixed,' Vince thought to himself as he shook his head. He didn't even want to know why someone would be getting their bowling ball fixed this early in the morning. "Go on with your story." Johnny shifted his stance and sternly looking at Vince. "So my car was parked at the back of the bowling alley. I went in and picked up my ball and brought it back out to my car. I put it in the back seat and was about to go home. But I was hungry and I remembered there was a Daffy Donuts around the corner. I decided to get myself some donuts and coffee and bring it back here." Johnny pointed to where he thought his car should be. Vince narrowed his eyes and looked down at his notes. "How long did it take to get the donuts, Johnny?" Johnny blushed. "Normally, l it woulda been about five minutes, but this really incredible girl was behind the counter and we started talking." Johnny smiled and patted his shirt pocket. "I got her number." I guess I was in Daffy Donuts for about fifteen minutes. I walked back to the bowling alley and my car was gone." Johnny frowned again. "Then what happened?" "What happened? What happened??!!! Johnny's tone was impatient. "I looked around and didn't see anything. No car, no bowling ball, nothing. I walked over to this pay phone and called the police." Johnny finished telling his tale and crossed his arms across his chest. "Okay calm down, Johnny. Lemme see the registration." Johnny obliged by taking his wallet out and pulling out the paperwork. Vince jotted down the information and handed the slip back to Johnny. "What happens next, Vince?" "Well, I'll call this into the station and it's distributed around. I'm sure it will show up, Johnny." Vince smiled trying to reassure his young friend. Vince sort of knew how attached Johnny was to his car. Everyone did in his precinct, ever since the day Johnny got a speeding ticket for following a squad. "Do you need a ride somewhere?" Johnny shook his head no. "I called Roy and he's gonna meet me here." Johnny let out a heavy sigh as he ran his hand through his hair. "Tell me Vince, what are the chances of getting my car back?" "I'll be honest with you, Johnny. The longer it takes, the less likely we'll find your car. It may get taken to a chop shop and dismantled for parts." Vince patted Johnny's back. "We'll find it, Johnny." Johnny smiled, but his heart wasn't into it. Vince walked back to his cruiser and drove off. Johnny was left at the corner to wait for Roy to pick him up. He started to reminisce about his Rover. He remembered the time he, Roy and Chet went fishing out of state and didn't catch one single fish. On their way home, they were the first on scene of a horrible traffic accident. Because of their training, he and Roy were able to save two of the three victims. Their drive back to California was pensive as they thought about how seriously injured that mother and son was. Roy still had the boy's blood on his pants, but refused to change. He just wanted to get home to his wife and children. Johnny dropped Chet off first and then drove to Roy. The two didn't have to say one word. They just looked at one another and knew what they were thinking about. Only a week later, Johnny was bitten by that rattlesnake. Then there was the time when Roy and Johnny swapped cars. Johnny thought the Rover wasn't his image any longer and Roy needed a bigger car for his growing family. At first, Johnny loved Roy's little sports car. Women would look at him, look at the car and then look back at him and smile. But the novelty wore off and Johnny realized he missed the Rover. He was so glad when Roy agreed to swap cars again. But, Johnny really wanted to clobber Chet for interfering and telling them that money should be exchanged. And then there was the night that he and Roy went to that celebrity party, overdressed in tuxedos. Boy that was embarrassing. But it wasn't all for a loss as they successfully resuscitated an electrical shock victim. The party was such a bore and both men knew they were way out of their league. Johnny, never one to miss an opportunity, suggested the two go out on the town. In their tuxedos, the two got back into Johnny's Rover and had a great time in downtown Los Angeles. Joanne wasn't too pleased how late Johnny got Roy home and she certainly told him so. But all that mattered was that they had a great time in the city. All those great times in the Rover, his Rover. And now it was gone. Johnny knew it was just a car, but it really was more than that. It was his freedom. Anytime he was stressed out, he could get into his Rover and drive. It didn't matter where, as he had all the stuff he needed with him, in that car. He knew his insurance would never cover his needs. Then there was the time he and Roy went to Santa Rosa County. They put a lot of miles on the car that weekend. A smile appeared on Johnny's face as he thought about that weekend. And all the girls he took out in his car. At first they thought he was picking them up in a truck, but when they got inside and saw how comfortable his car was……..no Johnny didn't want to think about all of those 'rides'. Lots of good times in that car. Johnny was leaning on the phone booth when Roy's sports car pulled up next to him. "Need a lift, Junior?" Roy asked. "Yeah, Roy, I do." Johnny opened the door and got in. (awwww poor Johnny. Is his Rover ever found? Does someone want to write a sequel?) |