Maximum Cool

Richard turned on the air conditioner and was fumbling with the buttons, trying to set it on “Maximum Cool,” when Lola said to him, accusingly, “Richard, you don’t need to turn it on when the top’s down. Besides, it’s mid-winter. Why do you want to drive around Santa Monica, in December, with the top down and the air conditioner on?”

Richard sullenly pulled the convertible into the parking lot of the Walgreen’s drug store, making sure that the car occupied two parking places. He turned off the engine, and looked at Lola, with a morose frown of hurt pride—probably due to their shouting match at the airport, and Lola’s near-decision to leave him without saying a word about why she was leaving.

“I just want to be sure you have lots of room, so nobody parks too close, while I’m in the store.”