Linda's Story

The Car Wash

Ever since she was about eleven or twelve, she'd spend the summers at her grandmother's. Nonna Rosita only lived three blocks away from the O'Sheas, but it still felt like a destination vacation to Linda.

It had been a decently lazy summer- she volunteered at the retirement home Monday through Wednesday, and on Friday and every other Saturday, she worked at Ilsa's Ice Cream Stand. It was actually a nice job- she made some new friends, Ilsa was a riot and an excellent boss, and the AC made the summer sun bearable.

Except for that disastrous week at the beach with him-who-she-shall-not-name, her summer was one of the best summers she'd had.  Now there was about a week before school started, and Linda was prepared. She had had all her supplies for two weeks- she knew what she needed. Pens and pencils and notebooks and a few new outfits were mandatory school supplies.

It was Saturday- her Saturday off- and she and Elliot were having a small picnic.

"I was thinking we could head into the city and get some sort of craft. Maybe some tie dye?" Elliot suggested.

"Ooh, that sounds fun. I love the craft store."

"I know you do! My Mom's finally letting me drive into the city." Elliot was born in January, and therefore had completed his driver's Ed courses and had passed the test.

"Lucky! I just got my license, and Nonna will only let me drive to work and the farmer's market. I keep telling her the more places she lets me drive, the less she has to chauffeur me."

After their lunch, they headed back inside to inform Rosita where they were headed.

"Oh, while you're there," she started, "you should get your car washed, Elliot. Saint Andrew's is having a fundraiser car wash at the 7-11 across the street. You know where that is, I trust?"

"Yeah, I know where that is." Elliot nodded.

"Do you need anything while we're in the city, Nonna?" Linda wondered.

"I don't think so. But thank you for asking."

Linda only smiled before turning to the stairs, "let me get my purse, and I'll be ready to go."

**********

"Oh crap," Elliot mumbled as he pulled into the open parking space.

"What?" Linda wondered, looking over at him.

"See that guy over there?" He pointed to a guy with thick black hair.

Why did she have the urge to run her fingers through his hair? "Yeah. So?"

"Well I dated his sister. You know, as a cover up to get to know him better."

"Uh huh?"

"And I screwed up somehow, and now they both hate me. You handle this. I'll pay you back." He quickly got out of the car and ran into the 7-11.

"Uh... okay?" She got out of the car and walked over to an older couple who were the cashiers. "Hi, how much is it?"

"It's donations, dear," the lady smiled nicely. "Give whatever you feel like is right."

"Oh.. um.. okay." Linda hated donation pay. She was completely fine with donating her money- but she wasn't quite sure about the protocol. "What are you raising money for?"

"A new bus," the man said. "The one we've got now is falling apart just by looking at it."

"Oh no, that's not good."

"No it's not."

"What Kinda wash you want?" One of the girls bluntly asked Linda.

"Um... just a wash? Soap and water."

"Tires too?" She inspected her nails.

She looked towards the gas station. Thanks a lot, Elliot. "No, I think those are okay."

"'Kay," she walked away.

Linda handed the lady ten dollars. "Thank you."

"Thank you, dear," she smiled again, placing the ten neatly with the others.

She wandered around, climbing the small hill in front of the parking spaces. She watched the teenagers and the younger kids wash Elliot's car. There was one teen she was particularly interested in; he had light brown hair and his T-shirt was nearly soaked. She found herself bitting her lip, then covering her mouth when a wet sponge was hurled his way. It hit him in the head, getting soapy water in his hair. He caught it before it fell to the ground, then threw it back at his attacker.

He laughed out loud when she squealed. "Look what you did!"

"You started it!"

"I'm all wet!"

"If you didn't want to get wet, why help wash? Why not hold the signs?"

"Shut up!"

They must be siblings, Linda deduced, smiling widely behind her hand.

"Let's keep it civil!" It was the old man's voice, and the two siblings muttered a 'yes sir'.

So he's their grandpa? Linda wondered, bringing her hand down and crossing her arms over her chest. She scowled when the girl who asked what kind of was she wanted touched the boy.

The girl- who most definitely looked like the school slut- made a show of bending over the bucket to soap up the sponge she had. She squeezed out the access water gingerly, smiling when her supposed boyfriend touched her butt while passing her.

Linda rolled her eyes, turning her attention to the gas station again. Should she go get Elliot? The pretty boy with the luscious hair was now holding the sign for the car wash. He wouldn't even see Elliot.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a scream followed by, "you little idiot! Look what you did!"

Linda looked to the slutty girl and almost scream-laughed. She was soaked head to toe, her clothes clinging to her body in a way that was sure to make the boys go wild. The boy who had sprayed her with the hose was laughing hysterically. When the cute boy with the brown hair looked at his girlfriend, Linda wanted to barf.

They definitely have something going on, she thought bitterly. Then the logical, not-influenced-by-hormones voice in her head said, wait a minute. What do you care? It's not like you're gonna date and marry the guy and have a bunch of kids with him!

She decided the voice was right, and rather than torturing herself, she headed towards the gas station. Just as she was passing the cashiers, she heard the lady start talking again.

She urgently told her husband, "You need to do something, Henry!"

"What?"

"Arrest her for indecent exposure!"

This time, Linda didn't hold back her laughter. "Yeah, Henry, arrest her!"

Little did Linda know that the logical voice in her head that told her to forget the hottie with the wet T-shirt was terribly wrong.