“You good?” Reappearing at my window, she hands me my license and registration but doesn’t wait for my answer. “I called for a tow truck to pull you back onto the road; it should be here soon. I would also like to call your parents. You seem shaken, and I don’t want you back on the road alone once we get you out of this ditch.”
Oh my God, why is this happening to me? I begin to cry, and she pats my shoulder.
“Hey, come on, stop that. Everything is fine. This could be a lot worse. You know that, right?”
I nod and rub the tears from my cheeks.
“Do you have a phone?”
I nod again.
“Please dial a parent or guardian and I’ll talk to them so you don’t have to.”
I pull my phone from my pocket, tap my contacts, and hand her the phone. “It’s my mom.”
She takes the phone and steps away out of earshot. I watch her pace back and forth talking on my phone in the rain that has slowed to a soft mist. I don’t even want to think about Mom’s reaction to getting a phone call from a police officer. I shiver as she walks back to me.
“Your mom is on her way. She’ll be here shortly. So, what do you kids like to talk about these days? Here, I have one for you. I have two dogs named Taylor and Swift. Funny story…”
This is going to be a long wait.
I’m grateful for the familiar sounds of Mom’s car arriving: doors slamming, and her and Carole calling out to me. “Simon, are you all right? What the hell happened?”
“I swerved to avoid a deer,” I say sheepishly.
Carole approaches and awkwardly tries to hug me through the car window while Mom, hands on hips, surveys the car looking for damage.
“You’re okay? That’s all that matters,” Carole says, letting me go.
“If any repairs are needed, they’re coming out of your allowance, young man. Do you understand?” Mom barks.
Carole rests her hand on Mom’s back. “Lindsey, now is not the time for that. Simon is safe. Take the win.”
“The deer is safe too,” I offer. Both Mom and Carole shoot me daggers as they approach the officer.
“Thank you for your assistance, officer, and thank you for calling me straight away. I’m Simon’s mom, and this is my wife, Carole. We’re truly grateful for your help and kindness.”
“No problem, ma’am. Just doing my job.”
“We just moved here to Rockville, but this young man insists on driving back to Columbia to hang out with his old friends. I knew something like this was bound to happen,” Mom says, and I could swear Carole gives her a gentle elbow to the ribs.
The officer shakes hands with Mom and Carole who are now bathed in the bright lights of the arriving tow truck. Officer Friendly comes over and pats me on the shoulder one last time.
“Be mindful of deer out on the roads at night, especially this time of year.”
The police officer gets back in her cruiser and drives away. Relieved I wasn’t given a ticket, I turn and grin at Mom who is not smiling.
“You are past your curfew.”
I stop smiling.
Within a few minutes, the tow truck has pulled my car back onto the roadway. There’s no damage, but it’s splattered with thick mud. Carole drives my car while I ride with Mom. We don’t speak on the drive home, but I notice the tense lines in her face soften, and she occasionally glances over at me and gives me a small smile.
“Off to bed with you,” she says once we’re in the house. “School starts bright and early. You have a big year ahead of you, Mr. Senior Man. And in a new school to boot. I hope you realize you’re an extremely lucky young man. Be happy we’re not grounding you and taking the car.”
“I know, Mom. But I don’t feel lucky. I just want to be starting senior year with my friends.”
“We’ve already been through this, Simon.” Mom kisses me on the top of my head, and Carole gives me a small squeeze. “Now go to bed.”
