Screwed

By Michael Taylor

Toby was twenty-four years old with shaggy brown hair and light brown eyes, and when he smiled he looked like he could be in a Crest commercial. He climbed into his black four-door car and knew right away that it was having problems. When Toby tried pulling out of the driveway, the car stalled and wouldn't start back up again.
Sighing heavily, he got out of the car and went back into the house. He knew that he had to get it looked at right away. He wasn’t sure where he would take it, since he didn't know anything about cars himself. He knew that he was going to have to take it to a regular mechanic, and that was going to cost him an arm and a leg.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ilovetoreadandwritebooks
• Release date: Jul 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463737866

Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor is Professor Emeritus of Transport Planning at the University of South Australia. Author or editor of eight transportation books, Dr. Taylor is a leading pioneer in transportation network vulnerability analysis.

Book preview

Toby was twenty-four years old with shaggy brown hair and light brown eyes, and when he smiled he looked like he could be in a Crest commercial. He climbed into his black four-door car and knew right away that it was having problems. When Toby tried pulling out of the driveway, the car stalled and wouldn't start back up again.

Sighing heavily, he got out of the car and went back into the house. He knew that he had to get it looked at right away. He wasn’t sure where he would take it, since he didn't know anything about cars himself. He knew that he was going to have to take it to a regular mechanic, and that was going to cost him an arm and a leg.

What's the matter, Toby? his mother, Roe, asked him.

Roe had brown hair too. It looked like she hadn't brushed it yet, like she had just woken up when he walked in through the door.

Oh, that damn car again, Toby shook his head, wishing that his father had taught him about cars so he could fix it himself, but his father never had the time for him.

Well, let me call your father and see if he can help you out. I know that your father's friend is a mechanic. There must be something we can do for you. I can’t tell you that it’s going to be free, but maybe his friend can cut you a deal or something, Roe shook her head sadly, knowing that Toby had had trouble with that car from the moment he’d gotten it. She wished that Toby would have just let her take him to a car dealership so he would have been fine, but he had wanted to find his own car.

I know. More money, Toby groaned.

Though Toby lived at home and helped his parents out the best he could, he never did like spending money. He’d always kept his money in a jar in his bedroom, never trusting the bank in case his account got hacked for some reason. He wanted to make sure that his money was always in reach when he needed it.

Roe watched as Toby sat down at the kitchen table and saw that he was watching her call his father, Tom. Calling him at work was usually a big no-no. He was a real estate agent, and if he was in the middle of a showing, he wouldn't pick up his phone anyway.

Roe smiled when Tom answered the phone. She knew that he wasn't happy when he heard her voice. He was always waiting for new clients, and he had probably hoped it was the answer to his dreams when he heard the phone ring.

Toby is having troubles with the car again. I thought maybe you could suggest that friend of yours that you used to be a mechanic with? Roe suggested into the phone softly.

Roe still had a smile on her face, but Toby could hear his father's loud voice on the other end of the line. He knew his father wasn't happy about getting the phone call at work.

Why do things always happen at the house when I'm not there? Tom muttered into the phone, shaking his head back and forth.

Sorry, this time it won't start at all, Roe whispered into the phone, but still managed to keep a smile on her face for Toby.

Toby rolled his eyes, letting her know that he could hear his father's voice as he grumbled and gave Roe the information for the mechanic. She wasn't fooling Toby at all with that smile still on her face.

Alright, I will give him a call and see if he can come get the car. I will give Toby a ride to the garage. I'll be late to work myself, but that's alright. Everyone has to do their part, now don't they? Roe asked into the phone. Raising her eyebrows, she gave Tom a silent dig, letting him know that he was hardly ever home himself and needed to spend more time with the family in order to know what was going on in their everyday lives.

Roe hung up the phone with Tom still talking. Shaking her head, she went to pick the phone up again, her smile now