Without car

detailbear drove me home from London last night. We stopped at a supermarket, which saved me considerable inconvenience now that I am without car. I stocked the cupboards with cans and ramen noodles, the freezer with juice concentrate.

At noon today I had an appointment scheduled with Dr. J.

At 11:38, I remembered about the car.

I called a taxi, then buzzed the office to say I'd be a few minutes late, but the cabby got me there on time.

Coming out of the office, I looked for a bus stop, saw one half a block away, spotted a bus approaching in the distance, and started to run. I tried to wave the driver down, but she passed me without a glance. She wouldn't even have had to wait.

As I stood in the dust, a car pulled up. The driver, a doppleganger of Hugger but huskier with a cropped red beard, offered me a ride downtown. Said he had just finished teacher's college and had time on his hands.

I wanted to ask him what he was doing for the afternoon, but caution prevailed. He shook my hand when he dropped me off. Friendly guy. His name was Eric.