Let's Ride

Chapter 27

Chapter 27 Gonna Make This Place Your Home

And so Jessica Winters came to live with us, it took a little while but she came to feel that she was part of the family. For a young girl who apparently never had to do much in the way of chores, it was hard for her at first; dad and I didn't cut her any slack in this department. Once she realized we meant business she eventually "got with the program" and started doing her share. Until school started, she went with us down to the parts store, while dad took his vacation (a fishing trip to British Columbia on the Fraser River) she learned a little about the auto parts business. She made friends at school, slowly at first, I had to sit down with her at one point and talk to her about picking the right kind of friends, and after what she had been through, she eventually caught on to what I was trying to tell her.

Jessica went on a couple of rides with Greg and I usually riding on the back of Greg's bike (any wonder?) Both of us made her feel welcome, and a part of our activities (well not all of them). That winter, Greg taught her to ski, and in a move that surprised us both, she really picked it up, and enjoyed it. I didn't but that's another story. Jessica stilled called her mom every week, mom and little brother now live in Florida near Brooksville with her mom and dad.

From time to time, she and I sit down and talk things over; I really make it a point to listen. It usually involves her responsibilities around here or friends at school, every now and them I'm required to run her and a friend or two someplace, (Usually a mall or someplace like that). She and dad get along pretty good, Jess knows what keeps dad happy and plays the game, she and I do the house work together, we slowly developed a system that works for both of us, and the house gets clean, dad's happy we're happy it all works out.

Another thing I've been trying to teach her is responsibility. It was real hard at first, but I kept my cool and took things nice and easy, Jessica gets an allowance for doing her part around the house, but considerably more helping down at the shop. I let her get a cell phone, but she learned early on it takes money to maintain one of those things. Through careful instruction, she now knows how to look up parts, take accurate phone messages, and even wait on customers if their needs aren't too complicated. Next summer Jessica will be taking driver's education, both Greg and I have been giving her intense driving instruction, Greg has even been showing her how to use a clutch.

Christmas was a very happy time for her this year, she got invited to a couple of Christmas parties her friends threw, she met a nice boy, and she got some nice things from all of us this year. Jessica wanted to give her mother and brother something nice, so I told her, "Don't worry about me Jess, find something really nice for your mother and especially your brother, I'll be glad to help you out if need be." Jessica also bought dad a real nice shirt he had expressed interest in, and like all of us, she was pretty tapped out at the end of the year. Before Christmas, she told me that she would like to have a nice Christmas dinner like she remembered her mom making once when her dad was still around, and that she would help me.

I had been teaching her to cook since she arrived, so she apparently felt confident enough help tackle a Christmas dinner. We had a medium sized turkey, which surprisingly Jess handled pretty much on her own, she read up on how to cook one, watched a video on You Tube, and watched that bird like a hawk. The result of all her effort were high complements by dad and Greg, and a big hug by dad, when I saw tears of joy coming down that girls cheeks, I started crying as well.

Our H.O.G. chapter sponsored a New Year's party and dance Jessica as well as dad went, and it was quite something to see them both dancing out on the floor. Jess even met a boy her age there and the two shared a dance together. I told Greg I thought things were going to work out pretty good for the coming year, I felt pretty good about myself for a change, I had taken up a challenge and had triumphed, since this story is still being written, I'll keep you posted throughout the coming year, so until then…Ride safe!