Bell, Book, and Scandal

choices. Boys in their twenties always know this stuff and love showing off about how much they know. Then I called several dealerships to find out if they had what I wanted. Fortunately, the closest one to our neighborhood did.“
    “Start us a pot of coffee while I change, please,“
    Shelley said.
    The coffee was poured and Jane had found some stale vanilla wafers to snack on.
    “What color are you choosing?“ Shelley asked when she came back in black silk trousers, low-heeled gray patent heels, and a white linen blouse with a gorgeous scarf draped to perfection.
    “Red. But only if I like it when I see it. Maybe taupe. They have both options with what I want on the lot.“
    “What did Mike say?“
    “After he screamed ‘Whoopee!’ you mean?“ Jane replied. “He told me to pick a certain kind of brakes. I’ve got it all marked out on the sheet I printed out. Heated leather seats. A sunroof. Fancy tires. A CD player and tape player both. The best that they’ve got at the dealership.“
    “Jane, you amaze me!“
    “Why?“
    “Because you’ve always been so stingy with yourself. First that big television set in your bedroom, now an expensive new car. I can hardly believe it. Good for you.“
    “For one thing, it isn’t as expensive as you’re imagining. Not even close to the cost of a Humvee, which I almost considered until I found out the price. I would look so good driving a Humvee.
    “Secondly,“ Jane went on, “it would have cost several thousand to fix up the old station wagon, and it wouldn’t add anything to its trade-in value. I donated because I can take the book value off my taxes, and that’s a lot more than it would be worth if I turned it in. And I’d be deeply embarrassed to let a car dealer even see it.“
    “How did you learn all about this?“
    “I have my sources,“ Jane said smugly. “You’re turning into me, you know.“
    “That’s a good thing,“ Jane said. “But I’ll never spend what you do on your wardrobe, I can promise that,“ she added with a smile. She glanced at her watch. “It’s only twelve-fifteen. My appointment to buy the car isn’t until two-thirty. I have to go to the bank first to buy a certified check. What else can we do to kill time?“
    “We can go look at your list and check the site on the Internet for color choices. Wouldn’t you rather have a nice bright green or maybe a white one? Or even that cobalt blue color you like?“
    “White would glare in the sun and always look dirtier than it really is. They don’t have a bright green. Only a dark green.“
    “Go for the red then. Taupe is only good for clothing. But you’ll have to see it in person to decide. I sort of liked that shiny blue one. But colors on the Internet aren’t all that reliable.“
    “As long as I wouldn’t have to wait for it, I might buy the blue,“ Jane said. “I don’t want to waste a month or six weeks to special order and drive a rental. Let’s go have lunch before we go to the bank. Those soggy wafers aren’t enough to fortify me for such a big decision.“
    Later, fortified by a sandwich and caffeine, Jane had her check in her purse, and when they arrived at the car dealership a full twenty-five minutes early, Jane began dragging Shelley around the entire lot looking for her choices. She was reading the sales slip on the window of a metallic blue car when Shelley said, “I see your car, I think. Come this way.“
    And there, in its full glory, was the car Jane wanted. “It doesn’t look dark red,“ Shelley said, “It has too much purple in the red.“
    “It’s called garnet,“ Jane said. “Not dark red. And I don’t think it’s the least purple. It must just be these weird pole lights that make it look odd. It’s a shame it’s such an overcast day. I still want to look at the taupe. It’s the color of the interior of this one.“
    “Can’t we just go inside and see if your salesman is twiddling his thumbs waiting for us to show up?“
    “What a good idea.“
    “You do know, don’t you, Jane, that I’m not good with car salesmen? I always want to tell them off for treating me like ‘the little woman’ who doesn’t know a car from a dishwasher.“
    “Then don’t speak at all and let me sort him out,“ Jane said. “I Am Woman.“
    As much as she wanted to dislike the salesman, Shelley couldn’t. There wasn’t a hint of patronizing. He was even impressed by Jane’s computer printout of her shopping on the Internet and the