The driver was shocked. Concern laced his voice as he asked, "Phoebe, what's this?"

Phoebe was confused, upset, and furious. She glared at him.

"How would

I know? It hurts!" Carefully, she removed the thorn from her palm.

Then she checked the seat to ensure that nothing else was around her.

Just as she shifted, she found three more identical thorns on the back seat.

The thorn in her leg had not punctured her too deep because she was wearing jeans.

However, blood began to ooze from her injured palm.

Phoebe was pissed off now. She seemed to have encountered a spate of bad luck. No matter what she did, something awful always happened to her.

She handed the thorns to the driver, and asked with disgust, "What are these? Who put them here? My hand is bleeding! I'm a painter. Who will take responsibility if there is severe damage to my hand?"

“I'm sorry. Give them to me, Phoebe." The driver apologized several times. He didn't dare to say anything else as he knew that nothing would pacify her now.

At once, he studied one of the thorns. It was reddish-brown and hard to break. The color and appearance of the thorn stupefied the driver. He had no idea what it was or where it came from. He cautiously suggested,

“Phoebe, I'll take you back and then find someone to identify them.

Would that be acceptable?"

“Whatever!" Phoebe said impatiently as she wiped the blood on her palm with a tissue.

Two days later, much to her surprise, the wound had swollen up. The puncture site on her leg had swollen just like her palm.

She winced as she gingerly touched the wound. It was not only swollen but painful as well.

Phoebe, who had forgotten about this accident, summoned the driver and asked, "Did you find out what pricked me?"

The driver shivered with fear and immediately apologized.

“I'm sorry,

Phoebe. After I brought you home that day, I was instructed to take your father to the company. I forgot about it. I'LL go and find out now!"

Phoebe was outraged by the driver's forgetfulness.

‘He is so useless! ' she cursed inwardly.

Her eyes widened in anger.

“Go and check now! My hand and leg are swollen. Tell me what they are as soon as you find out!"