TSB Ends Up In Court (1)

Now at last, the tale, oft put off, about the reason why I had a gap in my posts.

I was preoccupied.

I had to go to court.

The Recorder (a Kiwi version of a magistrate?) looked over to the dock.

"This is a very serious event Mr R***", he said in a dry, yet distinctly threatening voice.

"Not only were you found driving an automobile whilst being disqualified, but the offence which caused this court to disqualify you the first time was only one month ago"

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Sorry"

"Speak up R***, I cannot hear you"

"Sorry Sir"

---

This whole business started 2 weeks before.

I had been at home, reclining in the large leather armchair and watching the usual crap on TV when the phone went.

It was m'son, who apparently desired a lift home from Wellington.

"The car's broken down Dad, and it's been towed away, could you come and get me?"

A parent's life is a life full of hardship, frustration and occasionally, despair.
And lots of acting like a taxi driver.

I went to get him.(Luckily, it was the weekend, and Mr Whisky had yet to be visited, so I could drive safely)

On the way home we discussed his car.

It had had some sort of radiator implosion the month before, and I suspected that some long-term damage had been done to the engine of the 14 year old Toyota, so I wasn't terribly surprised that it had broken down, although I was pleasantly surprised on m'son's initiative in getting it towed away to a place of repair.

Normally that sort of advanced organisation is left to Dad, who always comes through with efficiency and care.

It turned out that he had broken down in a busy main road and that it had been towed to Porirua, a town some 20km away.  Rather a surprising destination I thought, as there were plenty of other towing companies much closer, but perhaps that was the first company he had contacted.

The next week, back at school, I was in my tiny office, just completing the numerous and tedious tasks which fill part of my day.

I had arranged  to pick up m'son from his place of work in Wellington, with the purpose of going out to Porirua and collecting the car.

Nice thought

Then I had a thought.

Then I got my mind back from the lovely place I had been visiting and had another thought.

Normal thought

How much money would it take to get the car back?

 I was pretty sure that m'son wouldn't have had enough cash on him to pay the towing company, so I found the company on the web and phoned them, getting through to the office administrator, a nice lady (NL).

My image of what the Nice Lady looked like

The conversation went like this.

Me: "Hello, this is Mr TSB, I understand that you have my (I was the legal owner, never having transferred ownership to m'son) car on your premises"  :It was towed away from Wellington on Wednesday after it broke down"

NL: "What's the registration number Mr TSB?"

Me: "It's ******, it's a blue Toyota Corsa"

NL: "Oh, yes, we have it here"

Me: "How much will I have to pay to get it back, and can I pick it up this afternoon?"

NL: "Ehhh..., just a minute"

*sound of rustling papers*

NL: "I'm sorry, you can't pick it up today, you will have to wait the 28 days until the police release it from impound"

Me: "Ehhh...What do you mean impound?" "It broke down in Wellington and you towed it back"

NL: "I'm sorry Mr TSB, but it was definitely an impound, you'll have to speak to Senior Sergeant Whatsisname in Wellington, he was the responsible policeman"

Me: "Ehhhhh...Are you sure?" "It was only broken down" "What was the problem?"

NL: "I don't know what the problem was, but you'll have to speak to Senior Sergeant Whatsisname in Wellington, he was the responsible policeman"

Me: *Thinks WTF is going on??* "Thank you, do you have his number?"  

NL: "Sorry, there's no number given, try Wellington Main Police station, it's *** ******"  

Me: "Thanks for your help, I'll be back in touch"  

I hung up.  

I took a very deep breath.  

I carefully stood up and:

1. Kicked the cupboard.

2. Shouted "I'll kill the little bastard" in a full throated screaming bellow.

3. Stomped off for a restorative cup of tea.  

My face must have been conveying my inner emotions, because the few kids about got out of my way sharpish.  

The next exciting and enthralling installment: TSB finds out the truth.