The Rental Car (2)

　　《365个英语小故事》:实用简洁的小故事，都是日常生活小故事，在学习英语的同时了解美国文化，循序渐进，轻松掌握。

　　Ryan and Amelia traveled in the rented Buick to Tucson to attend a weekend gem and mineral show; the big national show was every April. They mostly browsed. Amelia was partial to natural, unpolished stones. One that she particularly liked was priced at $1,600. Well get that one as soon as we hit the lotto, Ryan promised her. She rolled her eyes.

　　Halfway back from Tucson, Ryan swerved into the emergency lane to avoid a ladder in the number four lane. The emergency lane itself had pieces of metal and other trash in it, but he safely evaded the ladder. Ten miles later, he saw a bumper in the fast lane and a wheel rim in the number two lane. These freeways are turning into minefields, Ryan muttered. They returned the rental car at 9:45 p.m. Sunday.

　　The bill in todays mail was for $430.55, charged to Ryans VISA card. Apparently, some metal from the emergency lane had damaged the Buicks air conditioning system. I told you to buy their daily insurance, Amelia yelled. When are you going to listen to me?

　　Ryan said that he wasnt going to pay this bill. That Buick air conditioner had probably died last November, he thought. He dialed VISA to dispute the bill. If VISA didnt help him contest the bill, hed talk to his own auto insurance company. Surely they would reimburse him if he had to pay this bill.