A Tale of Two Carnies

20 - A Fan Belt Hack

While driving to the auto parts store in Newport, I kept a nervous eye on the temperature gauge as it kept moving toward the red. If it overheated, I'd have to pull over, wait for the engine to cool, and then continue onward. Fortunately, I made it to the store just as the radiator started to steam. I parked far from the door because a sign warned, No Repairs in the Parking Lot.

It was a warning I intended to ignore. As soon as I purchased a new fan belt, I'd have to install it, or I'd never make it back to the inn.

The store was busy. I walked in and took a moment to enjoy the cool air-conditioning before heading for the parts counter.

I remembered the pretty, red-haired girl from Saturday night and those expressive green eyes. For the life of me, though, I couldn't remember her name. I figured I'd never see her again, so at the time it didn't seem important. Now that I was here, I had to admit I was really looking forward to seeing her. There was something about her...

An older gentleman greeted me at the counter. Not the redhead. I was disappointed. "How can I help you?" he asked.

I told him what I needed.

A few minutes later he returned with a frown. "Your van is pretty old. We don't have your size in stock, but I can order one for you."

I sighed and closed my eyes. What was I going to do now? I could call the inn and see if someone could come and get me, but I hated leaving the Beast sit with all of Cozbi's possessions in the back.

"Hiya, Jace."

The voice came from behind me. I turned. She wore a store uniform shirt with a name tag. What luck. It saved me the embarrassment of asking her name again.

I tried acting cool. "Oh, hi, Shelly."

She smiled. "It's been a week since I told you to come and see me. What took you so long?"

I didn't know how to respond to that.

She giggled. "I'm just teasing. How are you?"

"Lousy."

Her smile disappeared. "Gee, thanks. Is that your reaction to seeing me?"

Not a good first impression. "No, ah, I don't mean it that way. I'm just having a bad day."

She laughed. "Again, I'm just teasing. You're so easy to mess with."

I told her about my problem with the fan belt.

"Let's go have a look. Show me."

"You know how to fix cars?"

"Does that surprise you? Because I'm a girl?"

No matter what I said, I couldn't win with her. It made me not want to speak at all.

She picked up the conversation. "I know a little about engines because I've been working here since I was sixteen, and I have two older brothers who are motorheads."

We exited the store into a wall of heat. When she spotted the van, she said, "Is that your ride?"

"It ain't much, but it's all I got."

"I expected an older guy like you to drive something flashier."

"Older? How old do you think I am?"

Wearing a serious expression, she said, "Thirty."

I gasped. "Thirty? You told me you just graduated high school. I'm only two years older than you." I saw the smile on her face. "Oh, I get it. You're just messing with me again, aren't you?"