Winter's Grime

Kaci couldn't wait to reach her destination if only traffic would move a little faster, but she'd started her morning off with a bang, which meant it wouldn't. Bad luck hung around like a plague. She swore they were purposely driving ten under the speed limit to piss her off. Today would be the last time she'd make the mistake of getting winter grime on her clothing before work. Finally, she turned into the car wash and frowned. She knew the business had been updated since she'd been here, but she wasn't expecting to see a crossguard blocking her path. Sitting at the kiosk outside the car wash turned into a royal pain. New gadgets, new pricing, and new ways to hype up a basic wash, including bells and whistles. Kaci sighed as she dug through her green wallet to find and insert her credit card.

"Seven dollars," she muttered, selecting the cheapest wash. Eyeing the car wash skeptically, This better be worth it.

Putting the shifter into drive, she circled to the wash entrance, tipped the attendant, rolled the window up, and shifted into neutral. Within two minutes, her once-filthy Atlantic blue Chevy Malibu would be transformed into a shiny, pretty, and clean masterpiece.

The car crept forward, and she relaxed in the seat. Once the water and soap drenched the vehicle, she saw them. A spectacle of flashing lights in various colors swirled around the car, a garish display that only added to her frustration. If she didn't know any better, she'd think she was on an eighties dancefloor with strobe and colored lighting. Finally, the car emerged from the wash, a shining testament to her perseverance. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Now I know what my money paid for," she uttered.

Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt Words: Drive, green, last
Word Count: 295