This whole day was ending in a very mysterious manner. Farouk and Mariam were 21 year old twins, the eldest offspring of their cook-a-lot mother, Fatima. Farouk and Mariam lived there at home with their six younger sisters and brothers, in a crowded house. Their suburb was basically a cross between Little Asia and Little Dubai. It was only supposed to be a short 18 minute drive to the big city. But that bold statement totally disregarded the perpetual gridlock that motorists overcame to drive to the freeway on-ramp.
"Never mind. East, west, home's best!" Farouk said, slamming the door of his father's car. "Thanks, everyone, for coming to my graduation. Imagine, Farouk Ahmoud, 21 years old, and already a Chartered Accountant!"
Mariam emerged, saying. "Finally, now we don't have to listen to your whinging any more."
Fatima planted a squelchy kiss on his cheek. "The world is your oyster, my son, light of my eyes. Your father and I are so proud of you."
Farouk replied, "Thanks a lot, Mum, that means a lot to me. now for the big after party. Where's the key, mum?"
Mariam was right in front of them, suddenly asking, "Mum, did you leave the house unlocked? The door's wide open!"
Fatima shook her head. "No, I prepared your party, and locked up myself."
Farouk peered inside the open door, and said, "We've been burgled. Wait here, ladies."
He entered the house, and really panicked as he yelled, "Hell, everything in the house has been stolen, even the food, and Mum's pots and pans!"
Fatima and all the children in the car started wailing.
Mariam was more than cross, "That's not fair, Now we can't eat."
Then Mr. Ahmoud called from the car, "Look over there, there's a truck escaping round the corner, driving away. I can see its tail lights."
Farouk grabbed Mariam's arm, as he told her, "Come on, Mariam, we're going after that truck. Out of the car, kids. Dad, give me the car keys!"
Mariam was gazing at the disappearing truck, "They're heading for the hills."
Fatima was very angry, "Bring back my cooking pots. Don't come back without them!"
Farouk was either very silly or very brave, as he hurried off, "She who must be obeyed, let's go."
Mariam laughed, "Chairman Mum!" but rapidly hopped in the car and strapped on her seat belt. This might be the ride of her life. Farouk started the engine as Mariam reminded him about his seat belt. "Oh, don't start that nagging," was all he said.
Mariam was peering through the windscreen at the vanishing truck, "The truck went to the left, there's only one road through the hills."
Farouk asked her, "Can you work the GPS?"
Mariam just said impatiently, "Don't be such a moron, you're wasting time."
Farouk answered, "Right, we're outta here. Burglars beware, I'm after you!"
The car took off with a screech of tyres, while Mariam giggled, "Burn rubber, Farouk!"
Farouk was concentrating, "Shuttup ya face!" He sped off, and the car roared down their street, then around the corner. "Like the wheelies, skilful, heh!"
Mariam told him to shut up, "Concentrate, can you see the truck?"
Farouk couldn't, but he drove a lot faster. Mariam also peered through the windscreen at the dark, gloomy bush surrounding the twisting, winding road, through the hills.
Farouk was hiding the fact that he was nervous, driving through the hills, after leaving the comfort zone of his suburb. "This road is tricky!" that is all he said.
Mariam commented, "I can't see the truck, can you? Are you sure they came this way?"
Farouk kept driving a little too fast, hoping he could catch up to the truck of mystery. He was so onto this, he was more than ready to plant his foot on the gas. He laughed, in spite of all this drama, "Pedal to the metal, or we'll never eat again!"
Suddenly Farouk yelled loudly, "Hey, there's the truck, those guys are dead meat!"
Mariam told her twin, "There's the overpass, now drive in front of them."
Farouk hit the gas, then slammed on his brakes. There was a loud screeching of brakes, and the truck stopped right behind them. Mariam was on her phone, ringing the police back there in their suburb.
"Great idea, now what!" Farouk asked his sister. Mariam suggested, "Listen to me. Go and tell them you've got a gun, and the police are on the way. Threaten them. It's our stuff, and your party. They're thieves!"
Farouk could only obey his twin sister, "You got your brains from me, little sis."
Mariam rolled her eyes, but realised the truck could not drive past their father's car, and could not back down the road through the hills. Farouk walked in the dark to the stalled truck. He called at the top of his voice, "Don't move and don't go anywhere. I've got a gun. The police are on the way. Right now!"
The criminal, known as Burglar One said, "Whatya want?" as Farouk kept his hand in his pocket, pretending to have a gun.
Farouk replied, "We want our stuff, and the cops want you. You're lucky Mum's not here. It's her stuff, and her food."
The burglar was being smart, "Tough!"
Mariam strolled over, waving her phone. There was a distant wail of the police siren. "Yes, officer, thanks. Their truck is stalled right at the overpass." Then she told Farouk, "The police are only five minutes away. Don't you crims move!"
Both the burglars snarled, "We'll get you for this!"
"I don't think so," Farouk answered, as the police car soon pulled up, and two officers of the town law opened their car doors. They were fat, cross, and very hostile to the burglars. The senior officer commanded,
"Right, you lot, out of that truck with your hands up. You are under arrest."
Burglar One said, "Sprung bad!"
His mate could only agree, "Yeah, looks like it!"
The policeman told the burglars, "Now, you're going to come quietly. I am feeling hostile."
Farouk smiled, "You're nothing compared to my Mum. She wants her food and stuff back, especially all her cooking pots. She raised unstoppable kids!'
Then he told Mariam, as the police squad car drove back to base. "You'll have to drive Dad's car back home. I'll drive the truck, return the food and stuff home. Tbe police can pick up the truck later."
Mariam agreed with this plan. "Let's go, before Mum has a stroke."
Farouk clambered into the truck. "Right, happy ending. Summer celebration time. Not bad for an accountant, am I?" That was only a night in a suburb, a tale of pots on the run.
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Haha. That was very fun and funny. Thank you for writing it!
Ari
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Should be made into a song.
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Funny story! Loved your naming of 'burglar one'!
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