“Awesome,” I say. “Thanks.”
I turn to leave and then hesitate at the door. I consider telling her my other idea, the one that Jean Shorts Girl gave me, but then I think, screw it. I’m going to take Jim’s advice and just do it without her. She probably won’t even notice.
Out in the hall, I hold my hand up to Trey for a high five. “Success!”
He chuckles. “Success. You need me to do anything for it?”
“Could you help me set some stuff up outside? Or wait—your hand—” I peer at his hand, which I’ve just noticed is bandaged.
“Eh, I can still lift stuff.”
I frown. “Are you sure? Didn’t you say you got stitches?”
“It’s fine.” He peels back the bandage—which, yuck, I didn’t ask him to do—and shows me the long line of black stitches underneath. “It’s not that bad.”
It looks pretty bad to me, but I can tell there’s no use arguing with him. “I’ll do all the carrying,” I say instead. “I just need you to tell me which stuff I can take outside. And I want to tell you about this exhibit I want to make. If you think it’s a good idea, I mean.”
I take him to the back of the museum, where there’s a big stretch of empty wall. Because of the way the building is designed, this part of the wall goes all the way up to the second floor.
Trey looks amused as I explain my idea. “Do you think it’s possible?” I ask.
He studies the wall. “Should be. I’ll need another pair of hands if you want it done by next weekend, though.”
“My friend John said he could help out tomorrow. He works with me at the auto shop.”
Trey nods. “See if he can come by around noon.”
He heads off to his demonstration station and I walk back to the front desk, doing a little celebration dance as I go. I relieve the other volunteer, Brenda, then settle into the chair and take out my phone to text John.
[12:19]: Any chance you can still come by the museum tomorrow to help Trey?
He sends back a thumbs-up.
[12:19]John:what time?
[12:20]: Would noon work?
A pause.
[12:21]John:WORKS
I stare at it for a moment, confused. Did he accidentally put caps lock on or something?
Then I laugh.
[12:21]: Ha!
[12:21]: If that’s really today’s answer, I’m going to be pissed.
[12:22]John:lol
[12:22]John:I haven’t done it yet
[12:23]: DITTO.
I put my phone down for a minute to help a lovely middle-aged couple who come in to buy tickets. They’re visiting from Australia and they seem genuinely interested in the museum. I chat with them for a few minutes and they tell me that they own a vineyard! Hence the interest in barrels, I suppose.
“Make sure you tell Trey that,” I tell them. “He’s our cooper.”
