Sometimes the search for a publisher calls for desperate
measures and most of the time I feel heartily ashamed
of asking my friends, who are already published, to put in a word for me here or
there.
measures and most of the time I feel heartily ashamed
of asking my friends, who are already published, to put in a word for me here or
there.
It seems disgraceful and yet it’s
what people do, especially when we do not have a reputation, when we do not
have a name.
what people do, especially when we do not have a reputation, when we do not
have a name.
In desperate circumstances,
pride slips away.
pride slips away.
Most weeknights before I go to bed
or first thing in the morning before 7 am, I check the street for cars, my
family’s cars. We live on a Clear Way in
the mornings from 7 am to 9 am. Any cars
parked on our side of the road between those hours, during the week but not on weekends, will be booked by council
inspectors and then towed away.
or first thing in the morning before 7 am, I check the street for cars, my
family’s cars. We live on a Clear Way in
the mornings from 7 am to 9 am. Any cars
parked on our side of the road between those hours, during the week but not on weekends, will be booked by council
inspectors and then towed away.
To retrieve the car you pay $300.00
to the man in charge of the depot in Collingwood to where the car is towed and later
– you have a few weeks grace here – you also pay the council a fine of
$144.00.
to the man in charge of the depot in Collingwood to where the car is towed and later
– you have a few weeks grace here – you also pay the council a fine of
$144.00.
It’s an expensive exercise to park
in front of my house between the hours of 7 am and 9 am on weekdays. Visitors
beware.
in front of my house between the hours of 7 am and 9 am on weekdays. Visitors
beware.
On this morning when I had elected
to sleep till fifteen minutes past seven, I went outside first thing to collect
the newspaper. To my horror my daughter’s
car was parked directly in front of our house.
I ran back inside to get her car keys and to put on my shoes.
to sleep till fifteen minutes past seven, I went outside first thing to collect
the newspaper. To my horror my daughter’s
car was parked directly in front of our house.
I ran back inside to get her car keys and to put on my shoes.
I do not like to drive cars with
bare feet besides I’d need to park the car in the side street some distance
from home. I pulled on my boots but did
not zip them up and ran flip flopping out of the house in my salmon pink terry
towelling gown.
bare feet besides I’d need to park the car in the side street some distance
from home. I pulled on my boots but did
not zip them up and ran flip flopping out of the house in my salmon pink terry
towelling gown.
The man was already dragging the car up onto his tow truck.
‘Please,’ I said. ‘It’s my daughter’s car. She
needs it for work.’
needs it for work.’
My daughter, still asleep in bed, was
oblivious to all this.
oblivious to all this.
‘Sorry, but it’s already been
booked,’ the man said. ‘Once it’s booked
I have no choice.’
booked,’ the man said. ‘Once it’s booked
I have no choice.’
He looked sorry enough, but even
then I figured the business of towing cars is his bread and butter.
then I figured the business of towing cars is his bread and butter.
It was only later after the drama
had died down that I recognised a mixture of compassion in the tow truck man’s eyes and
also his surprise. I must have looked
like a wild woman, my undone boots flapping, my pink dressing gown and my
shrill voice.
had died down that I recognised a mixture of compassion in the tow truck man’s eyes and
also his surprise. I must have looked
like a wild woman, my undone boots flapping, my pink dressing gown and my
shrill voice.
My daughter paid
the price. Fortunately, my husband could
get her to Collingwood to collect the car before she started work.
the price. Fortunately, my husband could
get her to Collingwood to collect the car before she started work.
Her excuse for leaving the car on
the street was one of confusion the night before. She had come home late from friends and was
tired. For some reason, she had thought
it was already Friday night.
the street was one of confusion the night before. She had come home late from friends and was
tired. For some reason, she had thought
it was already Friday night.
If I had planned to go out onto the
street and encounter a stranger from whom I would beg for mercy I might have dressed
better. That is, if I had the time and presence of mind to prepare.
street and encounter a stranger from whom I would beg for mercy I might have dressed
better. That is, if I had the time and presence of mind to prepare.
But in desperate circumstances, we
behave desperately and bugger the consequences.
behave desperately and bugger the consequences.