Chapter 4: The Search for Another Charger
Susan pulled up the shopping center’s charging map on her tablet.
There were four public charging locations within a reasonable driving distance.
Two were compatible with Karen’s vehicle.
One was less than a mile away.
Susan showed her the map.
“This station is compatible with your SUV.”
Karen barely looked.
“I’m not going there.”
“Why?”
“Because I was here first.”
Susan’s expression remained calm.
“You were here first at the wrong station.”
Karen’s lips tightened.
The line behind David had grown to six vehicles.
The older couple remained near the front.
A delivery driver had joined the queue.
A young mother was sitting inside another EV with a sleeping child in the back seat.
No one shouted.
That made the silence more uncomfortable.
Susan turned to Karen.
“I’m giving you a simple choice. Move your SUV to the compatible charger, or we’ll have to treat this as obstruction of a public charging facility.”
Karen’s face hardened.
“You wouldn’t.”
Susan didn’t answer.
Mike did.
“She would.”
Karen looked at him sharply.
David almost smiled.
But then his phone rang.
It was Linda.
He answered.
“Hey.”
His wife’s voice was faint through the phone.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Just delayed.”
“How long?”
David looked at the line.
“I don’t know.”
He glanced toward the older couple.
Then at Karen.
His frustration returned.
But something else came with it.
Restraint.
“I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
He ended the call.
Karen had heard enough to understand that the delay mattered to someone.
She looked away.
For a second, her expression softened.
Then it disappeared.
“I don’t care about everybody else’s schedule.”
David looked at her.
“I figured.”
Susan stepped between them.
“Enough.”
She pointed toward Karen’s SUV.
“Move it.”
Karen climbed into the driver’s seat.
The line relaxed.
Several people started their cars.
David sat down behind the wheel.
But Karen didn’t start the SUV.
She simply sat there.
Susan waited.
Mike waited.
David waited.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Then Karen lowered the window.
“I’ll move when I’m ready.”
Susan’s face became serious.
“Karen, this isn’t about winning an argument anymore.”
Karen looked at her.
Susan continued.
“You have already been offered another charger. You’re refusing it because you want this particular one.”
Karen’s hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“This one is mine.”
Susan shook her head.
“No. It isn’t.”
Karen finally started the SUV.
The engine came alive.
For a moment, everyone relaxed.
Then the SUV moved backward.
Not toward the exit.
It rolled into a nearby parking space directly beside the charging station.
Karen stopped.
She lowered the window again.
“There.”
Susan stared at her.
“You’re still blocking the charger.”
Karen smiled.
“I’m not at the charger anymore.”
Susan looked at the SUV.
Then at the narrow space between the vehicle and the station.
She immediately understood what Karen had done.
Karen had moved just far enough to claim she was no longer blocking the charger while still making it difficult for another driver to access the connector.
And Susan knew exactly what she had to do next.
