Getting It Done

It was the only day Diane had for rest and relaxation, and so she should be out enjoying herself she thought. It was also the only day there was to get anything done outside the office; like it or not, she had to wash the car.

She was embarrassed to always be riding with other people, never offering to drive. It was inexcusable. There was so much clutter on the front seat alone that when co-workers peered in, they’d instantly extend the invitation to take their car instead. Not a bad strategy with the price of gas this high, but then the mileage was reimbursed anyway.

Trash bag in hand, Diane climbed into the driver’s seat. One old air freshener that had by now acquired the odor of a dirty car, a McDonald’s bag from yesterday’s lunch, the empty iced tea cup that still filled the cup holder—that was the easy stuff.

She climbed back out and squatted down to reach under the seat. Oh, that’s where the cigarette lighter went! She’d heard it rolling around there somewhere, but it must have gotten stuck. Good thing she never used it and it hadn’t been hot. She’d taken it out so she could charge up her cell phone, what, two weeks ago? Probably.

There was the case for hercompact discs, squenched up and shoved under the passenger seat. She pulled it out and tried to fit it in the compartment under the arm rest, but that didn’t work.

What was in there, for goodness sakes? A bag of curlers. So that’s where they were. She remembered a day she’d gotten a late start and had to dry her hair with the car heater on high fan and the vents aimed straight for her face. At each stoplight, she’d pulled out a few more curlers. Miraculously, it looked almost as good as usual by the time she pulled into the office parking lot. Maybe that wasn’t really saying much though, she thought.

The back seat held mainly books and audiobooks to go back to the library, so that was easy to deal with. She stacked them in a pile and promised herself to make that trip as soon as this job was done. Noticing a white paper sticking out of the top book, she tugged it out: a prescription, used as a temporary bookmark. Good thing she found that. She was about out of antihistamine, and spring was certainly here. She could stop at the drugstore on the way to the library.

May as well clean out the trunk too while she was at it.

She popped the lid up and surveyed the scene. It looked like a litter box in there! Guess she could take those 50# sacks of litter out now. She didn’t need them for extra traction any more. Winter was over. She’d have to vacuum in there too. It looked like one had sprung a leak. Well, no wonder, with that loose screwdriver jammed in between them!

She pulled the trash can over near the car and dumped the heavy bags in. No point in trying to salvage what was left. Her cat had become an outsider anyway. Now, was she done yet? One last look before she went to get the car vac.

What was that in the back window? She climbed in to retrieve it.

It was a poster she’d bought at a yard sale and completely forgotten. The scene was of a hundred penguins, waddling down to the ocean. One of them was singing, “I’ve got to be me!”

Diana smiled and forgave herself for the mess. It would, however, be nice to have a presentable car again.