No parking

Mum's taxi service was suddenly running on empty

- Valerie Bowes

Mum, pick up my red dress for me in the morning, would you?’

‘Where from?’ I asked warily. ‘I took it into Westerton’s to be cleaned. I need it for tomorrow night.’

Westerton’s was on the other side of town. It wasn’t the easiest of journeys, plus the parking was terrible, and I had plans for tomorrow.

‘Couldn't you have picked it up before?’

Joanne sighed theatrically. ‘I forgot, right? But now I need it.’

‘You've got other dresses, Jo. It's my first day off for ages. I was going to…’

‘But I want to wear that one. Oh, go on, Mum. I can't get there because I'm seeing Steve, and you're not working tomorrow, are you? You'll have plenty of time.’

Actually, she was wrong there. Jack had already booked Mum's taxi service to take him to the track for training and pick him up again afterwards, and my husband Keith had promised his mate I'd drop off some tools. And these 'little trips' were all in different directions, including the hairdresser’s, where I'd planned to have a much-needed trim, then lunch with my friend Sue. Instead, I was going to spend my day racing round after my family as usual.

I cancelled the hairdresser, then rang Sue.