"I think somebody stole our car!"

"Hello lover."

I had just pulled into the garage and walked into the house to say hi to my wife before I was about to head out the door again for work. This had become a rare opportunity with our hectic schedules; both of us trying to juggle school and full-time jobs.

I crossed the kitchen and embraced Coralee and kissed her gently.

"I guess I'll see you late tonight?" It was stated more as a question because of the uncertainty I'd be awake when she got home from work. The question was more for myself than for her.

"I hope so," she answered with a smile.

I walked to our bedroom and retrieved a backpack filled with things I used at work.

I said my goodbyes and then walked into the garage. To my horror, the car, which I had just parked, was missing.

The garage door was open, which wasn't much of a surprise to me because I had left it open knowing I was only going to be home for a few minutes.

I immediately broke into a sweat. My heart was racing and I found it difficult to rationalize what had just happened. I ran back into the house and cried, "somebody has stolen our car!"

"What? Are you sure?"

"I'm positive! I parked the car in the garage, but because I knew I was leaving soon, I left the keys in the car. I just walked outside and the car is gone."

Coralee followed me into the garage. She seemed more calm and reserved about the entire situation. I was pacing back and forth with my hands to my head.

She walked to the opening of the garage and looked down the street. She began laughing and said, "the car is next door on the neighbor's lawn."

All I could say was, "huh?" The realization of what I had done just hit me. I had left the car in neutral and I didn't set the parking brake. The car managed to roll out of the garage, down our sloped driveway and then with a gradual degree of turn to the wheel it had managed to back right up over my next door neighbor's curb and came to a stop on their front lawn.

In my embarrassment, I laughed nervously with Coralee and then walked over to my neighbor's home. I didn't bother knocking on their door to acknowledge my stupidity. I just got into the car, started it up and drove away.