“Six years and forty-eight hours you mean.”He muttered as he headed back to Mr.Boucher.
“I found it,” he called as he got close to the checkout desk.“This should fix up that bike so it looks good as new and not as girly.”
Mr.Boucher’s daughter had gotten a new bike for Christmas, and her old one was going to her little brother – who refused to ride anything pink.
Fred couldn’t blame him.He had nothing against the colour himself, but there were other boys who did, and they’d likely make fun of the kid for riding a pink bike.It was dumb.But that’s how things went in little boy land more often than not.
“Wesley will be forever grateful,” Mr.Boucher replied.“You say this is easy to use?”
“Yep.I’ve used it myself a few times.”He dug out his phone and scrolled through his apps.“I think I have a link to a how-to video saved for this product.If you don’t mind sharing your number, I can text it to you.I’ll delete your number as soon as I’ve sent it.”Some people got a little fidgety over giving out their cell number.He couldn’t blame them.There were enough scammers and spammers in the world to make you want to throw your phone over the falls some days.
As it turned out, Mr.Boucher wasn’t one of those.He happily shared his number and couldn’t stop talking about how helpful Fred had been.He wasn’t a soft talker, so Fred could still hear his commendations even after the door to the garage closed behind him.
“Yo, Fredster,” Parker called to him from bay one.“You available to play with us on New Year’s Eve at the Waterwheel?It’s an early show.They close for a private event at nine.Sean mentioned you do a family thing that night, but I was hopin’ you’d be able to squeeze in a session before that.I haven’t replied to the offer of the time slot – so if you’re in, I’m doing it.And if you’re not, I’m out.”
“You haven’t found anyone else to play with you yet?”Parker had told Fred that they were actively looking for a permanent replacement for their guitarist.Well, as permanent as they could find, that is.It wasn’t like they were famous with lots of gigs.Just a few nights at the Waterwheel with another location popping up randomly.
“Flyer’s out, post is up.But not one single nibble on it.Maybe after all the holidays are done, it’ll get some action.”He peeked around the hood of the car he was working on at Fred.“I’m kinda desperate here.Aunt Patty will be disappointed if she doesn’t have music on New Year's Eve.”
Fred smiled at how the guy who acted so tough was such a softy when it came to his aunt.“Well, I’d hate to disappoint her.What time do we start?”
“Six.”
“So, six to nine is the gig?”
“Yep,” the answer came from inside the engine area.“Can’t thank you enough.”
“How are you set for this week?”
“There’s another group in.Some new duo called Heather and Skye.They’re pretty good actually.”His tools stopped clanking on whatever he was working on, and he righted himself to look at Fred.“I’ll know a schedule for January by the end of December, so do you mind if I text it to you and you can tell me if you can fill any of the spots?”
“I don’t mind at all.If I can help, I will.”Fred tapped on the side of the car before moving towards his own bay.A purple Mustang was just being driven onto his lift.He whistled softly.It was a beauty, and he knew exactly to whom it belonged.
“They wouldn’t let me drive it up there,” Ginny Drummond said from where she stood near the computer at bay three.
Fred chuckled.“Rules are rules, Mrs.Drummond.”
She huffed softly.“I know, but it’s a bit fun to see the young guys fumble with their words as they try to follow the rules while saying no to the boss’s wife.”
“I see they didn’t follow all of the rules since you’re here rather than in the waiting room.”
She chuckled.“I found your runner to be very accommodating on that front – as long as I did NOT drive my car onto the lift and allowed him to do it.He’s going to escort me into the store as soon as my Prissy is in the air.He’s a great kid.”
“He is, and he seems to be fitting in really well.”Fred opened up the computer to look at the order for her car.“Just an oil change today, Mrs.Drummond?”
“Check the rest of the fluids and the tires, and make sure the windshield wipers get replaced, and I like that purple washer fluid.Don’t give me that green stuff.”
There was always a list of requests from Mrs.Drummond.She was sweet but exacting – and she liked what she liked and was sure to tell you what it was.“Of course; we only use the green in the summer,” he assured her.
“Well, it doesn’t work as well as the purple even in the summer,” she argued.
Fred’s brow furrowed.“I’ve never had an issue with the green fluid.”
The lady next to him, cleared her throat.“My husband says the same thing, but I’m partial to the purple.”
Ah, yes, the lady did have an affinity for all things purple.“I’ll make a note in your file to only ever use the purple.Will that help?”
She smiled.“See, this is why I’m always happy to have you work on my cars.You know how to treat a lady right.”
