Unexpected

Yesterday there were errands to be run. Son’s first stop was the bank. He checked out some money. After that we went to Kohl. My daughter in law needed something. While both of us went inside, Son was looking after his three months old daughter outside. He strolled a bit away from the car for a few moments.

At that time a thief broke the driver’s side window, and stole the money. Son had put the money in the divider between the two car seats. The thief had followed us from the bank. Son remembered the white car. He had seen it at the bank, and while we were getting out of our car, it came, and parked right next to us. He didn’t pay any attention to it, not knowing that in the next few minutes he was going to be robbed.

Afterwards the police came. They said that a lot of robberies like this were happening. Their advice was that whenever you withdraw money from the bank, head home first, not towards the Mall. You never know who is watching.

Neighbors

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Son, and I live in an apartment. It’s a huge complex, and in each building there are twelve apartments. Ours is a corner one on the ground floor. Son rented it, and moved to it when his ex filed for a divorce. Alone, he came after me to Charlottesville, and asked me to come, and live with him. He says, “If I hadn’t been there for him, he would have died”. It has been a traumatic experience for him.  

We have covered car parking. Son, and mine spaces are side by side. On the left side of my car is our upper story neighbor T’s car. We chat together when we see each other at the car parking. We have never been to each other apartments. We laugh, and exchange a few words, then she goes her way, and I mine.

Same is the case with the neighbors who live directly over us. We exchange pleasantries when we cross each other, they are going out, and I’m coming in, or vice versa. The top floor neighbor is a police officer. He, and his family come and go at hours at which we never really see them. We only come to know that they are there by their cars, and when their cars are not there it means they have left.

Son is on greeting terms with the rest of them, where as I haven’t been face to face with any of them. So this is our neighborhood. We don’t know how much longer we’re staying here. I normally get attached to places where I stay, and I know I will be sad upon leaving.

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DAILY PROMPT

Neighbors

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Urgent

It wasn’t urgent. It had waited long enough for me to tackle it. Actually I wanted my son S to do it in my place. He was the perfect person for the job, but as he had his own urgent matters to take care off, mine had been relegated to a back burner.

Ever since I bought my secondhand car (I still sigh for the new one I wrecked in June), I wanted my old one to shine as a new one. I know truly it’s impossible, but wasn’t harming anyone in trying to cheer up it’s faded looks.

After doing the grocery trip with son, I armed myself with the car paint (bought it two months before), and went to the covered car park. My dear car was waiting patiently for it’s ordeal to begin. 

I cleaned the area first, and then tried my hand at the work I was going to attempt. The pen part didn’t work. A huge blob of paint emerged from the pen. It suddenly appeared making me flustered. It wasn’t supposed to be working that way. I wiped it off.

I took out the brush part. It looked exactly like the nail brush we use for a nail polish. I did try to be careful, but with having wobbly hands, the paint wouldn’t land where it was supposed to be. The fact that I am always in a hurry didn’t aid me in doing the repairing work. Suddenly I noticed a mosquito trying to have a midday meal on my left hand. I took a swipe at it, whereas it angerly buzzed off. Maybe it was warning me that it will be back himself,or with accomplices, and I won’t know it.

I concentrated on the car instead. In the midst of my work, I became aware of itching, and pain in the area of my left foot, toe nails, armpit, and on the back of my left hand. Something awful was having a feast at my expense. Must have had razor sharp teeth if it could go through one’s clothes.

I washed the red, itching and swollen areas, put salve on it, but it brought no relief. The only lesson I gained was never to do any car work in the vicinity of a car park. I wish I had brought the car to the front of our apartment, where there weren’t bushes, trees nearby.

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DAILY PROMPT

Urgent

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Tree

The Araucaria trees stumps I have put on the side lawn of my village home. 
Last year when I visited my village home, it was in a terrible state. Every thing looked dismal. The grass had disappeared, and weeds were running rampant in every direction. Bougainvilleas had almost dried through lack of water. One of the Araucaria tree in front was leaning heavily against the roof of the car park.

I had them cut. Feeling nostalgic, I asked the men to cut out some stumps to remember the  trees I had grown in flower pots, and transplanted to the ground in the village home about twenty two years back.

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DAILY PROMPT

Tree

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