When I bought my secondhand Toyota Corolla, I was thrilled. It wasn’t a luxury car, but it was mine, and I’d done it all on my own. I had recently left my corporate job to focus on writing my collection of short stories, so I was careful with my savings. The Corolla was a modest yet fitting choice.

The next morning, however, the excitement of my new car took an unexpected turn.

It was around 7 a.m. when my phone buzzed with an unknown number. Normally, I would have ignored it, but something about early morning calls felt pressing. I answered, groggy and curious.

“Hello?” I said, stifling a yawn.

“Hi, is this the new owner of the Toyota Corolla?” a man’s anxious voice asked.

“Yes, this is she. Who’s calling?” I replied, feeling a twinge of unease.

He took a shaky breath. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to retrieve something I left under the seat of the car. It’s really important. You picked it up yesterday, right?”

“Yes, I did,” I said, bewildered. “What did you leave?”

“It’s something… alive,” he stammered. “Please, can I come get it as soon as possible? I’ll explain everything when I see you.”

The word “alive” echoed ominously in my mind. What could be so urgent and alive that he would track me down like this? My thoughts raced, considering everything from a baby to a dangerous animal.

“Do you want to meet somewhere or give me your address?” he asked.

A plastic box with air holes | Source: Midjourney

Despite my reservations, I agreed to meet him in a nearby park. “Come over to my neighborhood. There’s a park not far from where I live. I’ll send you the address.”

“Perfect,” he said, sounding relieved. “Don’t worry, it’s contained for now.”

I hung up, still puzzled. What could be lurking under my seat? My mind envisioned various scenarios, none of which were comforting.

Twenty minutes later, I stood by the Corolla, feeling the cool morning air. The neighborhood was quiet, with most people still asleep.

An old pickup truck finally pulled up. The driver, a man who looked to be in his late twenties, scanned the area nervously before spotting me.

“I’m Ben,” he said, introducing himself. “Thank you for meeting me.”

He was younger than I had expected, with disheveled hair and an anxious expression. My initial discomfort softened as I saw his genuine concern.

“No problem,” I said. “So, what exactly did you leave under the seat?”

Ben knelt beside the car and reached under the driver’s seat. After a moment, he pulled out a small, sealed box with tiny air holes punched into the top. My heart skipped a beat as I wondered if it contained something sinister.

“I’m really sorry,” he said, holding up the box. “I have a pet gecko, and I feed it live insects. I must have left this box of mealworms and roaches under the seat when I was unloading the car.”

I blinked in disbelief. “You left a box of live insects?”

“Not intentionally,” he admitted. “I was running late and rushed to the dealership without realizing it. I was so worried about the insects escaping that I couldn’t sleep.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. The thought of bugs scurrying around my car was both terrifying and absurd. “You’re lucky they didn’t get out,” I said, chuckling.

Ben’s sheepish grin turned into a relieved smile. “I know it sounds ridiculous. I didn’t mean to scare you. The gecko, Samson, is my little brother’s pet. He adores it.”

“That’s quite a story,” I said. “I had a pet frog for a couple of weeks as a kid, until my mother found it bouncing around my room.”

Our shared amusement broke the tension. We laughed until tears streamed down our faces.

“I want to make it up to you,” Ben said suddenly. “How about a coffee? As an apology for the bug mishap?”

I was taken aback by the offer but felt a spark of curiosity. “Sure, why not?”

“Great!” Ben said, his face lighting up. “There’s a café not far from here. Would you like to go now?”

I grinned, half-joking, “How about you take me to a car wash first, to wash away any lingering bugs and paranoia?”

“Actually, that’s the least I can do,” he said. “Let’s go.”

Ben secured the box of insects in his truck and locked the Corolla. As we drove to the car wash, Ben talked about his little brother, who lived with him and went to a nearby school.

“That’s wonderful,” I said, impressed by his commitment to family.

At the car wash, Ben made sure the car received a thorough cleaning. We enjoyed coffee together afterward, sharing stories and laughter.

As we wrapped up, I found myself pondering what other surprises life might hold. Meeting Ben and uncovering the mystery of the box had turned an ordinary day into an unexpected adventure, and I was curious about what might come next.