Bette and Tina were sitting in silence on the front porch steps waiting for the police to arrive when Tinas cell phone shrilled out. As she answered it, Bette stood up and started pacing angrily, causing the wooden planks to shake.

Tina: Hello?

Alice: Well hello thereits about time you two got upjeez

Tina: Alice, its really not a good time right now

Alice elbowed Shane and pointed at the phone as she laughed quietly. Alice had finally let Shane get behind the wheel, and she was loving every minute of it. They pretty much just got on the highway and drove around the city for a couple of hours, stopping only for gas and to grab a quick lunch. They deduced that the owners of the vehicles were probably up by now and decided to give them a call. They agreed to call Tina, since she would find this way more amusing than Bette; Alice looked pensively at her phone before dialing, God I havent felt like this since I snuck out of my house my sophomore year of high school to go to this partyLenore wouldnt let me go because she said there would be drugs therecan you believe itafter all the ***** she did in the seventiesas if!

Alice: Hey whats going on?

Tina (sighing) I think our car was stolen

Alice: How do you know that

Tina: Dana calledlisten the police should be here any minute

Alice: (stuttering) Umuhuhokay.

Tina: Bye.

Alice stared out the windshield and held her phone in mid air. Shane notice the blood draining for her face, Alwhats wrong? Alice gripped her phone a little tighter and her eyes narrowed into a deadly gaze, ***** DANA! Shane felt her heart rate speed up and she quickly maneuvered to get into the right lane. They know the cars goneshe called them Alices rant was interrupted by the wailing of sirens in the distance. The women looked at each other with panic-stricken faces. Shane looked over her shoulder and groaned. There was a police car closing in on them.

Shane: *****! Alice what are we going to doAlice!

Alice: Just keep driving!

Shane: Are you ***** insanewhere the ***** are we gonna go?

Alice: Keep driving! Were near their housewe can make it therejust keep going!

Shane: You want me to lead the cops on a car chaseAlice trust mejail is whack!

Alice: But if we get thereand return the carthen we wont go to jailcmon get off on the next ramp!

Shane glanced into the rearview mirror then at Alices face. For some weird reason, what Alice said made sense, so she cut in front of the car approaching on her right side and peeled down the off-ramp. Shane flinched as the polices lights reflected sharply into her eyes through the rearview mirror. It was only a few blocks to Bette and Tinas house; Shane weaved in and out of the lanes and had the amazing fortune to get all green lights. The police car was gaining on them just as they turned the corner onto Bette and Tinas block. Shane thrust her foot as far as it could go and the car rocketed down the street. Alice screamed and held onto the windows and seats as the car came to a screeching halt right in front of the house. Shane panted loudly as she removed her trembling hands from the steering wheel; she looked over at Alice who had a stupid half-grin on her face.

Shane: (panting) Thatwaskindacool.

Alice: (whispering) So worth it!

Their little reverie was quickly interrupted by a stalwart police office pounding a fist on the drivers side window. The cop wrenched the door open and pulled Shane out by her collar, Get downon your knees! Shane obeyed and put her hands behind her head. Alice jumped out of the car and ran over to the drivers side, Please we can explain everything! The cop pulled out his gun and pointed it at Alice, Stopget downNOW!

Meanwhile, Bette and Tina were standing on the porch, absolutely bewildered by what they were watching unfold. Tina was the first to come to and hurried down the steps:

Tina: Waitwe know themthis is our car!

Cop: Maam, please just stay where you are

Tina: But we know themthis is our car!

Bette joined Tina, looking slowly at the car, then at the cop and finally at Alice and Shane kneeling on the pavement. The officer lowered his gun and looked at Tina then at the women on the ground, finally giving Tina a piercing look, What exactly is going on here? Tina took a deep breath and tried to steady her voice, We left our carwe couldnt drive last night, so they picked it up for us The cop put his hands up in the air and interrupted Tina, Then why did you report it stolen? We had a little too much to drink last night, Bette replied in a bitter monotone, Sowe were a littledisoriented. Tina smiled a little at the fact that Bette had finally said something, Yeah, we dont want to press charges or anything like thatdo you think we could justyou knowforget about all this? The cop looked at Alice and Shane, Im afraid notthey were speeding and they refused to pull over. Alice shifted a little, We were just coming over herewe got really scaredwe totally would have stopped if we had gotten a red light.

Bette, Tina and Shane all looked at Alice with disbelief and amazement. The cop rubbed his forehead a little and glanced at all the faces surrounding him. After a few moments he motioned for Shane and Alice to stand up and leaned against the car, Lets just say this was a big, BIG misunderstandingno one got hurt fortunately, so Ill cut you some slackbut youre each getting a ticket for speeding. Shane and Alice both sighed with relief and looked hopefully at Bette and Tina. Tina uncomfortably avoided eye contact and Bette returned a steely gaze. The cop gave each of them $300 tickets and wished them a good day. As the police car drove away, Bette clenched her jaw and glared once more at Alice before stomping up into the house. Tina stayed with them, but crossed her arms and shook her head slowly while giving them the look of death, You guysyou Tina just sighed with exasperation and stared at them intently.

Alice: I can explain everythingwe cameto get the keys, but you knowyou guys werent up and didnt answer to anythingwe were out here for good half hour at least(looking at Shane) right?

Shane: (nodding slowly) At least.

Alice: And so we didnt want you to get a ticket, so we

Alice swallowed hard and gestured with her hands, trying to get the words out, Wekindatook itand Alices voice trailed when Tina put up a hand, bidding her to stop. She paced around in a circle for a few moments, trying to wrap her mind around everything Alice was saying. Alice looked anxiously at Shane, who just shrugged at her, so she decided to continue, Tina, we were gonna come right hereyou know call and try to blackmail you as a joke or somethingbut I forgot about Danaobviouslyand After the look Tina shot her, Alice decided to shut up for good this time. Tina stared at the car, which was still parked somewhat diagonally on the street, You guys should go, she finally mumbled. Shane and Alice looked at each other and then at Tina. Shane motioned to the car, offering to park it in the driveway, but Tina just turned around and walked slowly up the front steps.

Shane: I think were in some serious ***** this time, Alice.

Alice: Their anniversary is next monthwell get them something REALLY nicemaybe something for the car.

Alice stepped back a little and admired the blue Saab nodding her head. Shane cocked her head and nodded as well, Its a very sweet ride.