Sorry for not updating for such a long time, I spent the whole day yesterday at the Uni Library trying to get this assignment done – no chance. Inception is spooking through my head all the time. I actually had a nightmare involving Arthur last night. This obsession turns out to be, uh, unhealthy…

Disclaimer: Same procedure as always. I own zip.

Cobb tugged James along behind him and tried to ignore his whining. He had been lamenting for the last fifteen minutes about not being allowed to buy that gigantic popcorn package. Philippa punched into the full plastic bags her dad was carrying and sent them against his knee with a painful thump.

"For the love of God, James, stop whining. Popcorn is very unhealthy, and we're having dinner in about an hour. Philippa, stop it. Now."

Both hands occupied by children and shopping Cobb dug in his pocket for the car key.

"Daddy, can I have one of those cookies now, please?" Philippa gripped his sleeve and pulled him down, nearly dropping the bags.

"No, love. As I said – dinner."

"Pleeeease!" She gave him those puppy eyes and pulled a face.

"What's so hard to understand here? No. No, no, no."

Philippa sulked. James bent down to the concrete, very interested at the remains of some little animal flattened into the white outlines of the parking lot.

"Don't touch that, please." Cobb searched his other pocket, juggling the bags and shrugging off Philippa's little hand.

"Daddy, I want a cookie. Now!" She shouted, stomping the ground with her cute little white shoes.

"No!" Cobb retorted and stopped next to a dark brown BMW X5.

"I WANT ONE!" Philippa screamed. An old lady next to them got into her car shooting them anxious glances.

"It's very rude to talk to your dad like that, you know." He said, fumbling out the key. Cobb pressed the little button balancing the shopping with one arm. Nothing happened.

"AAAAHHHHHH!" Philippa clenched her petite hand to fists and tiptoed up to her father, screeching in his ear. James eyed her with a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Holy crap!" Cobb swore as the car didn't unlock. This was just what he needed.

"You said crap, daddy." James murmured. "Crap crap crap…" He blabbered to himself as he reached for the cookie box inside the plastic bag dangling from Cobb's wrist. With one sharp tug the bag tore at the bottom, spilling its content on the floor.

"Jesus H. Christ!" Cobb kicked the side of the BMW fiercely and landed the rest of the shopping on the bonnet, beyond doubt leaving a nice dent, then bent down to pick up yoghurt, rice and a package of napkins. James already crawled under the car for the tangerines.

"Excuse me for interrupting you Sir, but I would appreciate an explanation why you are violating my car."

Cobb glanced up a pair of suit pants.

"Um, I… I'm awfully sorry." He stammered, glancing at his own brown BMW X5, parked only a few yards down the row.

"Kids, this way." Cobb gathered his shopping and the two cheeky brats, steering them across the parking space.

He then rushed back to the bewildered man, putting his business card down on the deformed bonnet and patted the guy on the back. Hell, he had to get used to being a father again.

So, hope you liked it… a BMW X5 would be the perfect car for the Cobbs, spacious, comfy, reliable. And if you thought James and Philippa did lose out a bit here, then watch out for my next story – there they'll be ever so well behaved :)

Love, StarScraper

PS: Do you actually have manual cars in America? Or do you use automatic ones in driving school? Just being curious ;)