Sandra and Donita are finally ready for their cruise to Aruba. All the problems seem to have been solved. They picked up the travel documents which have the airline tickets, hotel reservations and tickets for the ship. They both have their passports. Now they need to get the rental car to drive to Seattle. A friend drives them to the agency, then leaves. The women enter the office.
Sandra: Excuse me; I've reserved a car for today.
Here is my driver's license and credit card.
Clerk: Oh yes, I've been expecting you. Will you
both be driving the car?
Sandra: No, I'll be the only driver.
Clerk: And do you need insurance in case of an
accident?
Sandra: No, my insurance policy will cover any
damage to the car.
Clerk: (He makes notes on the paper.) Please sign
here.
Sandra: I'd like to inspect the car before I sign
anything.
Clerk: The car is in perfect condition.
Donita: Just sign the paper so we can get going.
There will be a lot of traffic soon.
Sandra: No, it's important to check the condition
of the car. I don't want to get charged for any
damage that wasn't my fault.
They go outside to inspect the car.
Clerk: Hmmm. I didn't notice this dent when the
car was returned. And here's a scratch.
Donita: It's a good thing you asked to check it
over.
Sandra: If you will circle the drawing of damage
spots on your paper, I will be glad to sign it.
Clerk: Of course. Here's the paper and the keys.
When will you be returning it?
Sandra: I made arrangements to return it to the car
rental at the Seattle airport. Do you have
that information? (She signs the paper.)
Clerk: No, I don't. I'll have to ask my boss about
it. She isn't here yet.
Donita: (Groans.) Another problem! Do you think fate
is trying to keep us from going on this trip?
Sandra: Who else could I talk to about this?
We have a long drive ahead of us and need to
leave soon to avoid all the traffic.
Clerk: Maybe I can find something in your
reservation paperwork. (Looks through file
folder.) Here it is. You are going to leave
the car at our airport office.
Sandra: Yes! We had better get going. Do you have
any maps?
Clerk: Not at this office. You would have to drive
to the downtown office in Salem to get one.
Donita: Let's stop at triple A on the way. They
have a lot of maps for members. (They go outside
and get in the car.)
Sandra: I could hardly keep from laughing when he
said we would have to drive 20 miles out of our
way to get a map!
Donita: I know! But now the adventure can begin.
Sandra: Maybe we should “cross our fingers” for
good luck? (She laughs.)
Donita: And our arms and legs, too?
Sandra: I don't think I can drive like that!
Eight hours later, they have arrived in Seattle
and returned the car. It has been raining hard
and both women are very tired. An airport shuttle
takes them to the hotel. They make arrangements
for a 'wake-up” call and transportation to the
airport. They have to be at the airport two
hours before the flight leaves.
Donita: I'm tempted to just sleep in my clothes,
since we have to be up at 4:00a.m.
Sandra: That's a good idea, and then we don't have
to unpack anything.
Donita: What if the hotel clerk forgets to call us?
Sandra: (Sleepily.) It's all computerized through
the phone. The computer won't forget. Night.
Donita: O.K. I'll try to relax until tomorrow.
Goodnight.
All names used in this story are fictitious.
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