The Parking Ticket

By Terribv

“Come on, Gage,” Chet said holding his hand out and displaying a huge grin, “pay up.”

The tall, lanky fireman begrudging pulled his wallet out of his pocket and withdrew a couple of bills.  “Here,” he said as he shoved the money into Chet Kelly’s open palm, “the next round’s on me, but I hope you choke on yours, Chet.”

Chet’s smile never wavered but his Irish eyes twinkled in delight.  He loved getting the best of John Gage and he usually did.  This time was even better because he hit Johnny where it hurt the most, his wallet.

Chet turned to the other men behind him.  “Beer’s on Gage,” he called out and cheers went up all around.  Chet turned back to his coworker.  “You know, John, with a little more practice, you could make this game interesting,” he joked.

“Chet,” Marco warned his friend.  He knew that Chet sometimes took things to far where Johnny was concerned.

Chet waved him off.  “Relax, Marco, Johnny knows I’m just joking around.  Don’t ya, Gage?”

Johnny snorted derisively and Roy grabbed him by the upper arm.  “Come on, Junior, let’s go home while you still have money in your pocket.”

Johnny narrowed his eyes at Chet.  “This isn’t over, Kelly.  I’m gonna get my money back one way or another.”

Johnny turned and began making his way through the crowded bar mumbling all the way.  His partner and friend followed a safe distance behind. 

Once outside, Johnny spun on Roy.  “Can you believe him,” he asked. 

Roy just shrugged knowing that an answer wasn’t really expected. 

“I can play pool,” Johnny said as he splayed his hand across his chest.  “I can play pool.”

“Come on, Johnny, let it go.  It’s over,” Roy urged.

Dejectedly Johnny turned toward his Rover and groaned.  Up ahead his saw a traffic cop writing a ticket and hurried down the street.  Roy struggled to keep pace with his friend.

As he neared the officer, Johnny called out, “Hey, come on buddy, how about giving a guy a break?"

The officer glanced up briefly but continued writing the ticket.

“Man, what’s with you guys,” Johnny said irritably.  “You so miserable that you gotta ruin everyone else’s day, too?”

Roy’s eyes widened in shock at his friend’s demeanor.  “Johnny,” he started but was interrupted.

The officer completed the ticket and with a smug smile directed at Johnny ripped it from his pad and placed it under the wiper blade.

“Anything else to say, Sir,” he asked.

Johnny looked back at the bar and then to the cop again.

“As a matter of fact, I happen to think that you guys are over-paid, pencil necked geeks,” Johnny said smugly. 

The cop glared at Johnny and started writing another ticket. 

Johnny was not about to go down without a fight.  “Go ahead, pick on the little people.  Abuse your power if it makes you feel better,” he encouraged.  “I could care less.”

The cop finished writing out the second ticket and put it on the car with the first. Then he started writing a third ticket as Johnny continued to push his buttons.

Roy shook his head in frustration.  “Would you stop it?  This isn’t funny,” he said under his breath so that only Johnny could hear.

“Live a little, Roy,” Johnny responded.  “What’s the worst that can happen?”

“I don’t even want to think about it,” Roy said dryly.

The officer inspected the car from front to back and wrote up every violation he could find.  If this jerk wanted to spout off at someone, he’d picked the wrong person, he thought to himself.  After numerous tickets had been written and the last one placed on the vehicle’s windshield with the others, the officer looked up at John Gage.  “You have a nice night, fellows,” he said as he tipped his hat and walked away.

After he was gone, Roy hit Johnny on the arm.  “Are you happy now?  That’s got to be over a hundred dollars in violations.”

Johnny shrugged his shoulders and walked the short distance to his Land Rover, which was parked behind Chet’s car.   He opened the door to get in as he laughed, “yeah, well if ole Chester B. would take better care of his car then there wouldn’t have been anything to write up now would there?” 

Roy shook his head as he climbed into the passenger seat.  He definitely didn’t want to be around when Chet came out of the bar and he hoped for Johnny’s sake that Chet didn’t find out just why he received all of those tickets.

*Click on the police car to send Terri feedback

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