Jack slammed the steering wheel hard. "Come on, you piece of scrap", he muttered, turning the ignition for the last time. Like a sick baby, the engine sputtered and came to life.
He held the clutch and switched the reverse gear, and after much heart-wrenching sound, the car rolled down his curb. A few hard pumps to the pedal, and he was on his way to work. He was already late.
His rusty old car was almost in its ten years of life, and how it managed to still be on the road was a mystery. It sputtered black thick smoke and rattled loudly as he revved the engine. The chassis was almost wearing off. But Mark couldn't tell why he loved the car so much that he didn't want to let go of it.
He pulled up at the quarry and the car came to a halt. A huge relief for the people beside him because of how loud it roared. He got out and headed straight for the diner first. He was hungry. If he was going to be productive for the day, he needed some energy for that.
The rush inside the diner wasn't anything unusual. Since the company provided free food everyone made sure to grab a bite before work. The old waitress had an apron to her waist and a huge smile as Mark walked up to her and made his order. Then he proceeded to join his friend Jay at the window seat of the diner.
"Hey," Jay greeted.
"Hey", Mark returned.
"Still leaving your keys inside that piece of junk?" Jay asked, looking at Mark's car.
"Yup", Mark replied, grabbing a seat and quickly digging down on his food.
"You take a whole lot of risks bro. Not that you still drive that almost-dead thing. You leave the keys inside too. What if someone takes it for a ride?" Jay asked, concerned.
Mark chuckled. "Told you severally, nobody's going to steal that piece of scrap", he said in between big munchies of food in his mouth. "It's practically falling apart man"
"Never say never, man," Jake warned and got up. "I don't think I can wait for you to finish eating. My supervisor has been on my neck lately. I'll see you after work" With that, he left the diner.
Jake quickly rushed over his food and ran out of the diner straight to the quarry.
A few hours later, they were done with work and emerged from the quarry. They joked and talked at the top of their voices with their colleagues. When they all bid themselves goodbye, Mark turned to the garage in search of his car. But it was gone.
He blinked hard and watched Jay as he got into his car. Then he turned back again, his heart pounding but there was an empty space mocking him.
"Hey Jay, it happened", he called out to his friend.
"What happened?" Jay yelled back from his car
"My car. It's gone."
"No way!"
Mark stood there, stunned. Who would want to steal an old car that isn't worth anything? Jay’s words earlier echoed in his mind again. “Never say never.”
Then he sat at the curb with his hands to his head as Jay walked over to him.
"Sorry man. I guess we have to go report it to the police." Jay said, walking up to him.
"There isn't much they can do, Jay. It doesn't even have a GPS, and there's no camera in the parking lot," he said, looking up to Jay and squinting as the evening sun hit his face.
"So?"
"I guess it's a sign to let it go and get a new one. I've already been saving for that" he groaned, rubbing his forehead. “I should’ve listened to you man,” he muttered.
He felt his stomach groan. It wasn't just the inconvenience of losing a car but the memories he had made with the car. From road trips to his first date.
He stood up and kicked a loose pebble on the ground.
"You mind giving me a ride home?” he asked Jay.
“Sure,” Jay agreed, holding his friend on the shoulder in consolation as they walked over to his car. "I guess we now need to figure out how to get you a new car so that you won't be leaving those keys inside again.”
Mark's voice softened. “I guess so too. And I guess I've learnt the hard way to never say never" he looked at Jay.
They laughed.