When Samira bought a secondhand Toyota Corolla, it felt like a small victory after leaving her corporate job to pursue writing. The excitement quickly turned into confusion when she received a call from the previous owner, Ben.
“Hi, I left something alive under the seat,” he said, anxiety in his voice.
Curious and a bit apprehensive, Samira agreed to meet him at a nearby park. What could possibly be alive in her car?
When Ben arrived, he looked disheveled but earnest. Kneeling beside her car, he pulled out a small sealed box with air holes. “I left my pet gecko’s food—live insects—under the seat,” he explained sheepishly.
Samira laughed, relieved but amused. “You mean to tell me I could have had bugs crawling around?”
“I was so worried!” Ben grinned, his tension easing.
They both burst into laughter, sharing stories about pets. “I had a frog for two weeks until it escaped,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes.
As their laughter faded, Ben offered to take her for coffee as an apology. Caught off guard but intrigued, Samira agreed.
“Let’s get the car washed first,” she joked.
As they drove to the car wash, Samira felt a spark of connection. What started as a mysterious call had led to an unexpected adventure, and she couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next.
