To have a car of my own has been one of my dreams for the past several years. As the savings accumulated to a certain amount, I began to do research and compare different brands of cars. After weighing all the factors, I finally made a big decision: Skoda 1.6 Manual. In the Mid-autumn Festival, they offered a gift package, which was said to be worth 4000 yuan. More importantly, the energy subsidy for that particular type would be cancelled the next month. So I believed it was time to purchase the car that I had dreamed about for so long.

From the outset, I liked the color of reflective silver best. However, they only had two colors to choose from: black and laser grey. When I was beginning to consider buying a Skoda 2.0, they informed me suddenly that a shipment of cars had just arrived. The saleslady told me on the phone, “Everything is perfect! Outside reflective silver, inside grey, just as you wished.” You can imagine how I felt at that moment. I just couldn’t wait. So I replied excitedly, “My money is ready. When can I come and go through the procedure of buying and getting the car?” “3:30 PM tomorrow.” I was a little surprised at such a late time. However, I figured that they might be too busy.

Despite that, I went by taxi earlier than the appointed time, arriving at about 3 o’clock. The saleslady received me and showed me the car. To my surprise, the color for the inside is not grey, but black. When I enquired about that, she said, “There’s no big difference between grey and black.” Considering the outside color is the one that I wished for, I said nothing. Once indoors, she told me to sign my name on the list of accessories. “Can you show me all of these?” I asked. “They’re all there; I checked.” “What is this?” “Oh, this one actually doesn’t exist. They printed it on the list, so I just ticked them all.” With these words, she crossed it off. I glanced through and found something unfamiliar, “What about that?” “Sorry, there’s no such thing, either” I was speechless, but I signed my name. I had to believe her and cooperate with her, anyway.

The next step was to pay the money for the car and insurance. They didn’t give me any invoices, but presumably I was too excited to notice. Then I was left alone, without being told why I had to wait. Bored and restless, I went out to have another look at the dream car that actually had belonged to me. After about 20 minutes, the saleslady was still nowhere to be found. When she finally reappeared, I asked about the gift package. She said not today, but later on. But when exactly? I wondered. Was I too eager to get everything done?

When I was finally told that I could leave in the newly bought car, it was already 5: 40, almost dark. I was a little concerned. However, what other choice did I have? I had to go and take my car home. Not for 300 meters did I go before it began to rain. The road was far outside my domain. To make matters worse, the traffic was extremely busy at that time of day. I had to move very slowly, trying to avoid any kind of accident. I couldn't go home direct, for they told me the first thing I should do was to get the gas tank filled.

However, everything seemed to go against me. The rain began to fall more heavily. I had to find a gas station and at 6: 30 I had to be on duty overseeing the evening self-study. No matter how hard I blinked or squinted, the road signs were hard to find or just a blur from a distance. Flustered by the honking of the horns behind, I just couldn't get the car started and the engine went dead several times. Maybe I was too focused; I missed the nearest gas station along the road. I didn’t dare to reverse or go to the other side and return to the station. I asked a motorcyclist nearby while waiting for the green light, and he said there was one at the Big Turntable. I knew it was much farther south from where I live. But I continued to drive straight ahead. After all, this was the only one I knew, and I had to get my tank filled.

When I reached the gas station and got the precious gas, I had to go west and then come back on the other side. The road was unusually crowded with several lines of vehicles going alongside. However, when I turned around the big turntable, I missed the road going north. I didn’t realize I was going the wrong way until I saw a big sign with a big word Hangzhou on it. Not until then had I truly understood what the word despair meant.

I drove and drove; the time became meaningless to me. The only thing in mind was to get back home, which seemed so far out of my reach. As I finally entered the residential quarter where I live and parked the car, I found I had driven 39 kilometers with an average gas consumption of 15 liters per 100 km. I walked around the car and checked, for I heard a scratching sound on the way. Sure enough, the paint at four places above the 2 right wheels was scratched off. It must have been the security fence. My new car! My poor new car! Was it the welcome gift I was supposed to give you? Whose fault? I forced a smile. Anyway, I got back home in the new car, safe and sound. But I was sorry that I mistreated my dear friend, as well as my dream lover. What an adventure I had!