I turned in my seat to see behind me, as a car a few lengths back honked his horn. Nothing interesting – just a guy stuck in traffic, bored.
I understood the feeling.
The car in front of the honker also tapped his horn, as did the car in front of him. The honk travelled up the line, until eventually, the woman in the SUV behind me honked as well.
Smiling, I quickly held down my own horn.
‘Seriously?’ my wife asked from the passenger seat.
‘What?’ I grinned at her. ‘Gotta pass the time somehow.’
She rolled her eyes, but smiled too. ‘At least we can just get the tram back.’
‘Trams get stuck in traffic too, you know.’
‘True. But you’re not in control of the horn on a tram, so – I don’t mind.’
I clutched my chest, mock wounded. A quick beep from behind informed me I could now move forward a few centimetres.
‘Who’s idea was it to get a car service in South Yarra?’ she asked with a sigh, settling lower in the seat.
‘I’ve been going here for years,’ I shrugged. ‘It’s hard to find a decent mechanic these days.’
‘Alright, grandma,’ she scoffed.
‘I’m serious!’ I laughed at her. ‘They’ve all retired and sold their businesses to those shady types, just looking to gouge you on the simple stuff.’
‘You sound like your dad.’
‘A wise man,’ I nodded seriously. She rolled her eyes again.
‘Besides,’ I continued, ‘I’ve been going there for my whole life. Most experienced mechanic near Hawthorn. Looked after my first car, right up to…’
I trailed off, stroking the steering wheel.
‘Up to your second car?’ my wife raised an eyebrow.
‘That’s my point! I’ve only needed two cars in fifteen years because my mechanic takes care of me!’
‘Right. You can move up again.’
I crept forward another half-centimetre, right as the woman behind me raised her honking arm. She retracted it… slowly. I nodded in thanks.
‘Who are you?’ my wife gaped, watching the exchange.