Chance Encounters

I walk the line

The crisp fall air was a much warmer welcome than the one I received. I briskly walked out into the field. I seen a farmer walk towards me. Ignoring it I continued making my way to the broken down equipment. Glancing over my shoulder I seen him pull a gun out. I set my tool box down slowly turning around with my hands up. Before I knew it there was a 12 gage shotgun in my face. “Getting awfully brave aren’t we?” I looked up. Staring through the iron sights was him. His beady eye held a glare that sent a cold sweat down my spine. “I’m just here to fix some equipment.” I said as calmly as possible. He lowered his gun giving me a look over then noticing my jacket he laughed and smiled. “Sorry there kid I didn’t know Frank would send a kid out to work on something.” I let out a breath thanking the lucky stars that I didn’t end up with a buckshot hole through my chest. “Yeah,I do apologize.” He held his gun to his side as I picked up my tool box and started to walk towards the broken equipment. “Look I don’t have the slightest clue what went wrong I was workn’ the field and all of the sudden it stopped.” I nodded, “I’ll get to work finding the problem, when I do find it I may have to run back to the shop and grab a part.” He grunted and nodded giving me the go ahead.

I crawled up in the cultivator. The steel ladder swayed as I found my way to the ignition. I turned the key and heard the starter which was making the regular clicking noise,and the battery gauge read normally. Making my process of elimination I deducted that it was possibly a fuel pump. I groaned,this was going to be an all day job, which would be fine,however I was under time restraints working out in the daylight. Struggling to find the fuel tank I managed to trace the fuel lines to the tank. Thank my lucky stars that the fuel pump was on the top. Which thank the gods meant that I didn’t have to spend time dropping the tank to get to it. I pulled out my ratchet and found the correct size socket. I finally got the pump out and showed the farmer and he looked at me confused. “It’s the fuel pump,it gave out, I have to grab a new one from the shop.” He nodded and I headed back to the shop.

Frank was busy writing out work orders and was on the phone with a construction company about one of their cement mixers coming in for repair. I threw up my hand as a wave and he nodded. I walked to the back stock room and started to rummage around for a fuel pump. The boxes needed help,unorganized all the time and damn near impossible to find. All the John Deere parts have green marks on the boxes. So at least there’s a start. After a while of searching I finally found the correct box. I mumbled that after work I’m going to organize the boxes of parts.

I drove back to the field,great my gas gauge was on almost E. Fantastic that’s going to need to be addressed,for obvious reasons. I got out of my truck to see the farmer, (found out his name is Samuel from a work order;) was arguing with a county official. “When I sell this here grain, I’ll pay y’all.” The county official looked livid. “The farm is going to get foreclosed. Samuel you’ve been delinquent on payments for a while.” I walked up hearing the conversation and the man scoffed at me. I glared at him. “How much is the payment?” I asked. The county man laughed, “A kid like you wouldn’t have 280$ laying around.” I stood up straight, “What if I do?” I asked with an edge. Granted I almost got shot by this man,but I didn’t want to watch someone’s land get taken,especially when they needed it to live. “Please, just be a kid, don’t worry about grown up problems.” The official said sneering. I got mad,I wanted to deck him in the face,but I knew what would get him even more agitated. “Samuel,hold this part I’ll be right back.” He nodded taking the box from me as I ran to my truck.

Pushing the seat forward I pulled out a small lock box. It had some savings from selling the broken lawn equipment and some money from my plants. I counted 560$ out of the 1200$ I managed to scrape and save up. “I’ll just work overtime.” I mumbled to myself as I shoved the cash into my pocket. Samuel and the county man were still arguing when I came up. “Here ya go,for this fall and for next spring.” I said as I shoved the money into the hands of the county worker. His jaw hit the floor as he started to count. Glaring at me he grumbled underneath his breath, “I’ll be back,you got lucky Sam.” Then he walked to his car and left. Samuel very much teary eyed handed me back the box. “I’ll repay you kid.” I smiled, “It ain’t nothing, but a thing. Now,let me go install this fuel pump.” He nodded as I went and worked.

The twilight was starting to set and thank the gods because I finished right as the sun was going down. I turned the key and she fired up,nice and responsive. “There you are Sam. Frank will have your work order done by tomorrow.” He smiled and gave me a hug. “Don’t ever stop being you. Come visit me on the farm one of these days.” I nodded and gave him a hand shake. I pulled away from the farm and went back to the shop. Frank was still there of course he was it was only 5:20, I forgot that it starts to get dark early now. “Frank,I have to go to dinner with Mark tonight, then I’m coming back here and doing some work.” He looked at me and nodded. “Have fun.” He said unenthusiastic. Then with a grin he added, “Good luck with his family kidd you are going to need it.” I smiled and took off for the house.

I rummaged through a box of clothes in my room finding a battleship grey dress. It was pretty modest as it went right to my shins. I glanced at my cowboy boots. I only used them for farm work,but they were the closest thing to dress shoes that I had other than sandals. I scrounged around some more and found a Jean jacket. It was clean and at least it was something to cover my arms. I hopped in the shower and got to work on my face. Now,I can tear an engine down and train a dog,but makeup was a challenge. I decided on some good eyeshadow and some blush. Topped off with some red lipstick. My hair Was brushed out and loose. I fed Cam and waited to hear that 442 pull into the driveway.

I was smoking a joint when he pulled up and smiled. Getting out of his car he took my hand and kissed the back of it turning me red. “You look fantastic.” He said smiling. I gave him the once over. His white button up was tucked into a pair of black jeans. The top three were unbuttoned. “You look like a movie star Marky.” I stuttered out putting the joint into his mouth. He led me to the passengers side and opened my door. I got in and leaned into him.He held my hand as he drove. “I’m nervous.” I said grabbing a big puff and exhaling. He smiled. “Hun, it’s ok,just my father and mother I’m sure they will like you.” I shrugged. “Will 150$ be enough? For all of us?” I asked. Mark immediately started to belly laugh. “Baby,you don’t have to pay, I’ve got our tab.” I shook my head, “Nope. You are gonna have to wrestle me for the tab because I’m paying it.” We both had smiles on our faces. We pulled into the driveway of a fancy Italian place. “Now’s your chance to smoke one last joint before they get here.” I nodded and pulled a bag out of my boot not hesitating to light one up. My nerves were shot and lord knows I don’t quite care for new people as it is. I leaned back into the seat. Finally Mark’s parents pulled in driving a bell air convertible. “We should have taken my truck.” I grumbled. Mark shook his head smiling. His mother was wearing a beautiful navy dress that went to the floor and his father wore a navy blue shirt and a black vest with some dress pants. Suddenly I looked completely under dressed for the occasion. I gripped Mark’s hand as we walked into the door.

The lights were very dimly lit. White table cloths lined the tables just like a fancy restaurant you see in the movies. The mosaic tile glistened as we walked to our table. Sitting down his mother and father ordered a glass of wine. I stuck with water and Mark ordered Orzo. The waitress left us alone leaving just his parents and us. “Hello young lady I am Jane and this is my husband Kennith.” I smiled and said, “Nice to meet you too sir and mam’ My name is Skye.” Oh s**t my near Canadian accent came out. “Where are you from? And what do you want to do for a living?” I smiled gripping Mark’s hand underneath the table. “I’m from Marquette,but moved down here because my father got drafted. I would like to be a shipwright and work on the Great Lakes freighters.” I said trying not to have my voice tremble. Jane smiled at me her blue eyes were a periwinkle shade,then she glanced at Ken. He had a look of disapproval. “What is your part time job now?” He asked with a gruff voice. “I’m a mechanic on farm equipment at Plow and Field.” He raised an eyebrow. I gulped. Not audible enough for anyone to hear. Thank the gods the waitress saved me from the questioning for now. Placing our orders as quickly as she could then leaving; I almost pled for her to stay and join the conversation. I was clearly walking a tightrope. Ken cleared his throat. “You expect me to believe you?” I shrugged, getting agitated thinking that I would lie to him. “You don’t have to believe me,but you can call my boss Frank Copperstone and find out. I’m a work study student so I leave school early to go work.” Mark barged in the conversation. “She isn’t lying. Actually she’s a pretty damn good mechanic and even fixed up her truck by herself.” Jane raised an eyebrow. “Was that red truck that used to be in the neighborhood yours?” I nodded. “Yes it is. I moved so therefore I had to take my truck.” Ken looked at me, “That was a pretty nice truck.” I told him thank you as the food got here. I picked at it. Getting questioned makes a person loose their appetite. “What do you do for hobbies?” Jane asked. I explained how my father got me into hunting and dogs. I told them about Splash and how I planned on going up to my family’s house. Then I made a bold move of asking if Mark could come with me.