Chance Encounters

A moment worth remembering

After my shower got rudely interrupted I scrambled to my room. A t-shirt and jeans were my go to, throwing a ziplock bag into my pocket, full of fresh buds. Mark knocked on the door and my mom answered, “She's just getting ready, please come in. I am so glad,that she finally has a friend.” I heard them talking. I entered the room and he stood up offering me his hand. Taking it we walked out the door.

He drove back to the spot where the gravel pit was. “Your mom seems nice.” He smiled glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. I gritted my teeth, “She’s putting on a show,there isn’t anything redeeming about her.” He frowned, “Tell me,why did you move down state? Especially in the last year of highschool?” He asked. I sighed before I answered just wanting the open road to swallow me and my thoughts. “My father got drafted into vietnam. I had to go live with my mother even though they are separated. He raised me and taught me how to hunt and fish, along with dog training and wrenching.” I paused, his expression hard to read in the poor lighting. With a sigh he kept driving. “I hope you find something that makes your time down here worth it.” I smiled, “There is some things that seem to be worth it.” We parked in front of the gravel pit. The stars shone off the windshield. Mark lifted up the counsel and motioned for me to come over. I leaned into his shoulder. “I’ve always liked looking at the stars, wondering if there was anyone who felt the way I do,there's so much to life, I want to go diving, I want to go to Europe and see the le man's races.” His blue eyes sparkled. I smiled. “There's so much to explore, trust me I want to do a lot, most people only want to do the bare minimum, I want to push myself, do better than my parents.” He smiled and planted a kiss on my forehead. We sat like this until I eventually slid down his lap my head laying on his right leg as he leaned his seat back wrapping his arms around me. We enjoyed each other's company for a while, away from everyone. I felt him move his seat up and with that we drove off. I remained on his lap, I was freezing cold. He was in 3rd gear just cruising. Nothing too extreme as he was trying not to disturb me.

We pulled into my driveway at 3:30,not the greatest time seeing as tomorrow was Saturday and I had to be to work at 8:00. I sat up and looked around. “Sorry I dozed off.” Mark smiled, “If that's how you get your sleep then I don’t mind in the slightest.” We got out of his car, giving me a chance to get a hug. Taking off his hoodie, he gave it to me. “Here, stay warm, I’ll see you at work tomorrow.” He kissed my forehead, and released his hug.

That night I laid there. The thought of him was tantalizing me. His beautiful eyes and pretty smile. I wanted to lay next to him forever,but I know that I wouldn’t be possible. Then the thought of my new job. Frank was a really cool boss and I’m glad that I get to work for him and I’ve learned quite a bit over the past week. With a sigh I flicked on the radio hoping to hear anything about my father. The radio lulled me into a rough sleep.

I was excited and tired, the tea took forever to kick in. I had my grateful dead 8-track playing as I drove off. I beat Frank to the shop. I began to roll a day's worth of joints waiting for him, but that was cut short by him pulling in twenty minutes later. He also drove a truck which made me feel a little better because I wasn’t the only one around the area that drove one. Quickly chugging the rest of my tea I hopped out of my truck and joined him. I shoved my bud in my glove box.

We walked into the shop. He was holding a bag with a few items in it. “Morning,Skye. I have some stuff for you, I guessed on sizes so I hope they fit.” He tossed me five John Deere green button shirts and five pairs of black overalls. The shirts were a typical button up mechanic’s shirt,short sleeved and it had the company name (Plow and Field) on one patch and my name on the other patch. “You represent me and I plan on keeping ya for a while, so you could use these it’ll save your flannels from getting absolutely trashed.” I thanked him and changed. The pants were a little big,but that's ok by me since they were overalls. The shirts were also a little big which was also ok because I could layer long johns underneath and be warm. I looked down and grinned like a fool. It was official,I’m a mechanic. I walked over to the desk and picked up a work order. It was a fuel tank change. Taking one look at the year on the order I took a guess and thought the gas tank was rotting away. I walked back and looked at it, this international had a major fuel line leaking and the gas tank was crumbling from the rust. I began to take it apart.

The day was halfway over and by looking at me you would think I crawled through an oil field intentionally. A farmer brought in a tractor with a crushed oil filter. And getting it off was a mission that was only achieved by bending it back and having it spray all over me. Frank called lunch as we hung out in the front. “Do you mind if I light up in here?” I said, “I smoke.” He laughed so hard that Mtn Dew came out of his nose. “And? I drink all day, trust me smoking some grass doesn’t bother me in the slightest.” I smiled as I lit one up offering a hit to him. “Ah screw it, I'll take a hit.” Frank was divulging stories about Korea and how he was a tank mechanic. He was really interesting to talk to and if nothing else I learned a few things on being a better mechanic just by being his apprentice. “I’m holding your first check, but just so you know I pay every friday.” I shrugged, “That’s fine, I appreciate you paying me, but I was in this to learn to be a better mechanic.” He smiled, “I’m glad someone wants to learn the trade. It’s a rare thing especially in women and I’m happy to see one wanting to become a mechanic. Hell, after you graduate I’ll think about paying for your school and certifications.” A loud screeching noise broke what concentration I had.

A very familiar corvair screamed into the parking lot followed by a 442. Mark and Larry were apparently not kidding when they said they would be up here.

“I smoked your ass!!” Larry yelled as he hopped out of his car, Mark yelled back “It's only because I saw a trooper trying to clock my ass.” Frank and I laughed, through laughing I apologized and explained who they were.

Mark and Larry walked up to us. “Damn Skye, look at you looking all pro.” Larry smirked. “Look at you two nothing better to do than come up here and bother their friend working.” Mark smiled. His blue eyes danced around. “I do believe that I told you we were going to come up here.” My face turned bright red. “Ya know young men, she's one of the best apprentices I’ve had, not scared of anything, doesn’t whine when I ask her to do something she just does it.” Mark laughed, “I bet, you should have seen her when I first did, bench pressing a trans for her truck.” Frank smiled, “Yeah sounds a lot like something she would do.” My face was a shade of lobster, “Guys I’m just doing what I enjoy,nothing special other than the fact I get to do it for a job.” Frank chuckled, “Keep that attitude and you’ll go far.”

Mark and Larry left, Mark said he would see me after work and I smiled as they drove off. “Now let's wrap today up, I want to go and listen to the michigan game at four.” I nodded quickly getting back to work. Making a few tweaks on an 8N Ford. We were done by the time 3:00 rolled around. Looking at the stack of work orders we still had lots to do,but we're slowly getting a rhythm of knocking four to five out a day. Five a day wasn’t bad especially if both of us could manage five work orders. Frank dismissed me as we walked to our trucks. “Alright Skye, I’ll see ya tomorrow… well Monday, tomorrow is the lord’s day and it’s a rest day. Take care.” I nodded and told him thank you,as I hopped in my truck.

Throwing my safety glasses up on my dashboard I left for home. I actually did it, I started wrenching with the pros and that was more than I thought would happen. Especially after getting denied from so many shops around here. I was feeling pretty good about it. Although I still have quite a bit to learn,I was excited getting to work in my environment.

Noticing the Cornet sitting in the driveway could only mean one thing;my mom was home. I groaned underneath my breath. She was the last person I wanted to see. I walked in the door and cursed my life. My mother looked me up and down.“Huh, you weren’t kidding when you said you had a job wrenching.” I shook my head as I walked past, my aunts noticed me and all started making off hand comments about my profession. “She should find a nice young man to settle down and have kids of her own.” My one aunt said. I responded, “The only kid you will get from me is a dog, so go looking for a human kid elsewhere.” Making sure my work clothes made it into the washer I personally tossed them in and started it. I grabbed an old hunting bag from the basement to throw my other set of uniforms in.

After a quick shower I noticed I still had grease and oil on my hands, and no matter how much I scrubbed it persisted on being there. With a sigh I got dressed. Mark begged me to go out with him. In fact he even got Frank to tell me that I needed a break and to go out and do something. I rummaged through a box of clothes, which consisted mostly of flannels,jeans,and concert shirts. The bottom of the box had what I was looking for though, a dress. It was grey with short sleeves and it came down just past my knees. I threw it on along with braiding my hair, putting a hawk feather in it just like I learned on the res.

Mark showed up while I was getting ready, my mom and aunts bolted to the door to see what the guy looked like. Rarely did I go and do anything remotely like this. “Come on in, what a handsome young man you are.” My aunt Ann said as he came in the door. He sat down on the chair as my mom and aunt berated him full of questions. That was my que to get out there and leave. Poor Mark had to endure the questioning of a lifetime. I doubt even a Soviet spy would be able to handle my mother and her two sisters. I heard him answer their questions as I came downstairs.