The Convention (Ab)Use

Repair Shop

When Wes and Ahmed got to the house, Tess had already driven in. She was still sat in her car, listening to a radio programme on the car stereo. Wes walked over to where she was parked and tapped on her window. She pulled down the glass as she nodded to the remarks made by the voice on the radio.

"Welcome," said Wes.

"Thanks! This guy is making so much sense today." She reached for her bag and got out of the car, with the car stereo still working. Wes figured she meant the person speaking on the radio programme.

"Doesn't he usually make sense?"

"Most times, yes, but not like this," said Tess as she turned off the car stereo.

"Oh well, my friend came to see me." Wes pointed at Ahmed who was standing some five metres away.

"Good afternoon," said Ahmed.

"Good afternoon, welcome" replied Tess as she and Wes walked towards the door. Wes beckoned on Ahmed to come closer and they walked in to the house.

"What can I offer you? By the way, don't mention anything fancy, I only have some peanuts." Wes smiled as he held up a jar of peanuts. "I need to go shopping as this one's almost empty."

"Wes!" Ahmed shook his head. "Fine, I'll have the peanuts."

"That reminds me, I wanted to go to that supermarket near Tali junction," said Tess. "There was some traffic there so I turned away. I couldn't see very far but I suspect there was an accident there."

Wes shrugged at Tess' statement. He walked to their fridge, opened the door, bent down and began moving things around. He felt a pain go down his back when he bent. He sighed quietly. "We still have some drinks Ahmed, so you are in luck."

***************

Vinod was at the repair shop. He had taken Edward's car to the repair shop the previous day. The car had now been fixed. He pulled out his phone and made a phone call.

"Hello sir, the car has been fixed."

"Oh good, bring the car here then. Actually, erm, wait there, I'll come over," said Edward. "I'll be there in twenty minutes." Edward seemed to be talking with someone else at the same time.

"Okay, beep-beep, okay sir."

Vinod ended the call and looked at his phone. It beeped again. His phone battery was low. He had forgotten to charge it up.

**************

Rajeev and Edward headed to the mechanic workshop from where Vinod had called. On the way, they talked about the Halloween night. It was the Sunday after the accident. Edward initially wanted Vinod to bring the car over. Rajeev suggested they drive to the workshop instead as it was on his way home. Vinod had already been waiting for over twenty minutes. The traffic was surprisingly heavy that afternoon. As they drove into the workshop, Edward thought he recognised a man. It was the diplomat who had been so rude after the accident. He was there with one of the SUVs, but this time, it was significantly more battered than it was on the Halloween night. Edward couldn't help but approach the man when he saw him.

"Your excellency, what happened this time?" asked Edward with a cunning smile on his face.

"Do I know you?" asked the diplomat.

Rajeev saw through this immediately. He was standing behind Edward. He knew very well that the diplomat must have recognised him even if he didn't recognised Edward.

"Oh yes sir," said Edward. "We met not too long ago. Your friend was most kind to give me reason to come here."

"My friend? How, which one of my friends?"

"Oh, I believe you called him Dzmitri. He's tall, quite stocky, grey hair..."

Rajeev and Edward could see the momentary look of surprise which flashed on the diplomat's face when he heard the name Dzmitri. The diplomat shook his head. He realised he must have mentioned the name on the Halloween night.

"I'm sorry I don't know who you are and I really don't have time for this," said the diplomat as he walked away. The diplomat walked to the reception area of the repair shop.

"He really is full of nonsense, isn't he?" said Edward. "It's not even 48 hours and he, or his friends have been involved in another car accident."

"Involved? They probably caused the accident," said Rajeev. "If his driving didn't, then his attitude must have. With that attitude, I won't even be surprised if someone took pleasure in hitting that car."

Edward and Rajeev made their way towards Vinod. Vinod was standing beside Edward's car. His phone rang as the friends approached. Immediately he answered the call, his phone went off. This was the second time it had gone off on the day. Whenever there was an incoming call, it went off because the battery was weak. The car had been fixed. The three men walked around the car as they inspected the work.

"It looks okay to me," said Edward.

"Yes, almost like nothing happened," said Rajeev.

"Well, that's what the expensive payment was for, eh."

"I mean, look at that," said Rajeev handing Edward his phone.

Edward looked at the pictures of the car Rajeev had taken just after the accident.

"Hehehe, it's funny, seeing this again," said Edward as he handed the phone back to Rajeev.

Edward was satisfied with the job done. The friends then parted ways. Rajeev drove off. Vinod got in the car and plugged his phone in to the car's charging port. He took Edward home. After taking his boss home, he left for his own house. He had already gotten home before he realised he had not turned his phone back on. He turned it on. The screen brightened as it read, "Three unread messages."