Chance Encounters

Sealed in fate

I threw the box in the bed of my truck. Leave it to my mother to be like this. I sighed as I turned the ignition over in my truck. Who would have guessed that a full ride to a trade school would cause this many problems. I backed out of the driveway and took off towards my grandma Carol’s house. She worked on the B-52 bombers in WWII so if anyone would understand where I’m coming from it’s definitely her. My mind was in a frenzy as I backed out,the next thing was to go tell Mark where I would be. It was only 7:30 at night,I drove to his house,hopefully he was in his room or outside. I parked in the street and seen that the dining room curtains were open. His father had a scowl on his face as Mark got up from the table. I threw my truck into neutral as he walked up to my window. “What’s up Skye?” He asked glancing over his shoulder to his father who was now standing at the window watching our every move. “Look,I’m getting kicked out of my house,here’s the address I’ll be at for a while,I’ll see you and Larry at school tomorrow.” We each stole a quick kiss before we parted ways.

By the time I pulled into my Grandma Carol’s house it was 8:20, she always left a key for me underneath the rug on the porch. True to fashion my Grandpa Lenny was still up drinking beer listening to the tigers game. “Hey kiddo! What ya doing here so late?” He made a motion for me to sit down next to him. “My mother kicked me out and I had nowhere to go.” I said looking at the floor. He put his arm around my shoulders, “It’s ok,go grab a Cola from the fridge and we can talk about it.” I got up from the couch vaguely listening to the game,my grandma must have been in her sewing room. I grabbed a cola from the fridge and walked back to the couch. “So why did my daughter kick you out?” I sighed and began explaining to him everything that happened in the past two months. I sighed at the end. Lenny looked up at me, turning down the radio. “Hey it’s alright kid, you can stay here all I ask is that you continue going to school and work.” Carol walked out of her sewing room, “What a wonderful surprise, would you like me to make you something to eat?” I nodded, “Yes please,I’m sorry for bothering you guys so late at night.” Carol responded from the kitchen,”It isn’t a problem at all.” I excused myself to get my box of clothes from my truck. It was nice that at least my grandparents liked me. Carol came back and sat down with us, “So all because you are going for your passion your mother threw you out?” I nodded, “Yeah pretty much,I have the paperwork for the school in my glove box. Honestly I’ve been working hard,even got a job,but it’s never good enough for her.” I paused taking a bite of the sandwich she made. “Well I’m sure Lenny won’t mind if you stay here.” He shook his head, “As long as you go to school and go to work everyday I do not have any objections.” I smiled and said thank you,it meant a lot that they let me stay. After I ate I wished them a good night and laid down in my new room.

The only downside of staying with them was waking up an extra forty five minutes earlier. Why was highschool even a thing just send these useless people out into the world and make them work. I sighed as I put on a work uniform. I was at the point where I didn’t care that I wore them to school as I was heading there after one hour anyway. In the most of making my morning tea I ran into Lenny as he was making coffee. “Morning kid.” He grunted reading the paper pouring a cup of coffee. “I was just about to leave myself,the plant Forman said a boiler blew and he needed my assistance.” I nodded,”Well be safe,I’m about to head out,is it ok if i invite a few friends over here after work?” Lenny shrugged, “It wouldn’t bother me and im sure your grandmother would like to meet your friends from down here.” I smiled, “Thank you.” I said through bites of cereal, which indeed the milk was running down my face. “Bye gramps love ya!” I yelled practically tripping over myself to get out the door and start my truck.

Here it was another day at what is essentially a prison for minors. I showed up just a bit earlier than Mark and Larry as they both found me and sandwiched me into my spot. Scooting all the way against my door I Mark flew in giving me a tackle hug and Larry sat patiently until I could give him the joint I was smoking. “It sucks that we can’t just sneak out at night together now.” Mark said. I shrugged,”Well as soon as I can I’m getting my own house or something,I can’t deal with the b***h I have for a mother.” Mark laughed,”Yeah I’m sure mine isn’t much better in any regard.” Larry passed me back the joint which turned itself into a roach. “Yeah well my father has me working on three guns a day and he won’t shut up about how the government is going to take our guns.” I sighed poor Larry, he was a great guy a little bit into the more weird things,but still an amazing friend. I sighed, “Dude,do you know how awkward it is to have run into your grandfather while getting ready for school and he’s getting ready for work,there isn’t much room for conversation.” Looking around I noticed, “Son of a b***h I forgot my tea at home.” Mark kissed my cheek, “It’ll be alright,you’ll be gone off to work in another hour and we will see you at the shop.” I sighed, “Oh yeah you guys are invited to my grandparents g-ma Carol is gonna be grilling and gramps Lenny is gonna get drunk and tell some war stories.” Larry laughed, “Hell yeah sounds great I’ll take the bbq and war stories.” Larry made quick work of the second joint I brought,well had stashed in my truck. Along with my tea, I forgot my ziplock bag underneath my pillow, some how I figure today isn’t going to be my day. Larry handed me back my roach, “Babe, why don’t you get something to eat,just skip today and go to work.” I shrugged,I enjoyed our shop time together,and it would suck missing it. On the other hand Mark had a point,ever since I started working for Frank I stopped eating as much as I did,on top of the stress from moving. “Yeah,I should,but I want to wrench with you guys.” Mark sighed,hopefully seeing as me wanting to spend more time with him and not as being too clingy. “Alright,come on let’s get to class before we get stopped by the parking dick.” Larry said.

Hustling through the bay doors as usual, was how the lecture started. “I can’t believe my three best students come in reeking in god knows what, along with one of them having to leave to go to work!!!” Our instructor wasn’t happy. In fact this was many things to go wrong. As we were wrenching Larry walked right into the used oil collector causing it to spill all over his shirt. With a defeated sigh I loosened up the transmission fluid plug,chunks of metal fell down my shirt which was stained red. Mark laughed at our misfortune,but his was coming when he forgot to put the parking break on while getting out of the car. It started to roll backwards when he tried to stop it with his foot and he lost his shoe to the road and the rest of his pants while pulling his foot in to start the car. I looked at Mark like he lost his mind,I mean come on who doesn’t know to just start the car in gear to get it to stop,or smash the break and clutch. I sighed,whatever curse or hex my mother put on me had to stop. “I’m having a s**t day.” I mumbled continuing to pull metal chunks out of my back and shirt. Larry chimed in,”I pray that work for you doesn’t go as poorly as today.” I nodded and thanked him,any prayers to the gods would be helpful. I kissed mark on the cheek and gave him a hug. “I’ll see y’all tonight.”

Work,didn’t go half bad. I grabbed a soda and a bag of chips on the way to work, at least it’s something in my gut which was better than this morning. Frank watched me shovel the last of my chips and soda down,using my arm to wipe my mouth. With a puzzled look he asked, “Is there any reason why you are covered in transmission oil with metal shavings and eating chips like you are at your last meal before the electric chair?” I looked at him and deciding on taking the serious route I responded, “I’ve been having a bad day and my mother kicked me out so I had to find other means to survive.” He slouched down, “Look Kidd,life gets rough and it sucks,but once the hard work of plowing the field is done you get to admire the beautiful sunset.” I nodded,kinda poetic of the old man, it was a strange afternoon,Frank did an oil change and I sharpened blades before he sat me down and gave me a life lecture sharing laughs and then Mark and Larry came barreling through the shop. Frank looked at me, “Kidd,I’ll see you tomorrow,have a fantastic night.” I nodded and shook his hand. Mark wrapped his arm around me. “Well it looked like work went well.” I nodded, “Follow me y’all,we are off to get steaks.” Larry did a burn out his Covair’s rear smoking and as if Mark couldn’t resist being showed up he smoked his 442’s rear as well. Frank was outside watching us peel out of his parking lot,if I saw correctly he was smiling almost as if to tell me do it. I threw my truck in neutral and roasted the back end to the point of the oil being gone from my tires,and with the white smoke washing over me I pulled out in between Mark and Larry;but to this day they each claim something different.