‘Mom, we’ve driven past four times now,’ I plead. ‘Please, let’s just go home – what if Dad sees us? Or Mary?’
Mom lets out a bitter laugh at the mention of Dad’s new fiancée. We’ve reached the bottom of the street and she’s just turned the car around again, preparing to drive past Dad’s new house for the fifth time. ‘Oh, I’d like to see Mary. I have a few words for her.’
I slide down lower in my seat as we approach the house yet again.
‘Is that extension illegal?’ Mom barks, squinting at the scaffolding that has been put up for what looks like an addition to the living room. ‘I bet it is. I didn’t see any notice for planning permission. I could probably get them for that…’
I don’t know what she means. I don’t know how the planning process for an extension works.
What I do know is that we are drawing attention. A neighbour across the street, an old man mowing his lawn, is peering suspiciously at us. He’s been there every time we’ve circled the house so far. A woman walking her dog, a few houses further down, is frowning in our direction too. We’ve stopped right in the middle of the street. In the mirror, I can see a car behind us backing out of a driveway. They’ll want to get past us soon and there won’t be enough room.
My cheeks burn.
I glance at the old man across the street again. Mom follows my gaze. And then, to my horror, she rolls down her window to yell across at him. ‘What are you looking at?’
‘What are you doing?’ the old man shouts back in response. ‘I’ve seen you loitering, I don’t know what you’re up to, but I have half a mind to call the police.’
The car that I saw leaving a driveway is behind us now. The driver honks, he rolls down his window to yell something – but Mom has now gotten out of the car and is striding, enraged, towards the old man.
Horrified, I run after her, choking out my apologies to the old man.
‘Please – please don’t call the cops. We’re going.’ I turn to Mom, pull her by the sleeve. ‘We’re going,’ I hiss again, but she doesn’t move. I grab the keys from her hand and run back to the car with them. That prompts her to stride after me. I get into the driver’s seat. If she won’t bring us home, I will. I’m not great at driving yet – I’ve only had a few lessons. But I have to try.
A response to the freewrite prompt illegal extension.