P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

Pawning

"Hell of a job melting it down, Dr. Frankenstein," JJ said as they climbed out of the twinkie.

"Like you could've done any better," Kie snarked.

"I could've done much better, I took a welding class," JJ said.

"Hey, hey," John B interrupted their bickering. "Chill out, okay?"

JJ glared at John B. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to pawn this piece of shit off. How did I get this job, anyway?"

"Cause you're the best liar," Pope said.

JJ stepped up to the door, pushing it open. Cory was right behind him.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," JJ greeted the woman at the desk.

Cory followed behind him closely as they approached the desk.

"Afternoon," the woman said.

"I see you buy gold," JJ said as they approached.

"That's what the sign say, don't it?" The woman snarked.

"Well, I sure hope you buy a lot of it, because I'm about to blow your mind," JJ said, pulling off his backpack.

"I ain't got much mind left to blow, so have at it," the woman said.

JJ pulled out the newly melted down clump of gold, placing it on the table.

"How 'bout dem apples?" He said.

The woman chuckled. "That ain't real."

"That ain't real?" JJ asked.

"It can't be."

"Feel how heavy it is."

The woman reached forward, picking it up with a struggle. She picked up her magnifying glass, turning the light on and looking at the gold.

"Spray painted tungsten," the woman concluded.

"Spray painted tungsten?" Cory asked out of nowhere.

JJ reached back, placing his arm around her shoulder. "It's alright, doll. She'll realize it's real."

"May I?" The woman asked, holding up the tools to see how soft it is.

"Go for it," JJ confirmed.

The woman tested it, finding that it passed yet again. She reached over, grabbing her dropper of acid.

"Ooh, the acid test, my favorite," JJ said.

The woman dropped some acid onto the gold, finding that it passed, yet again.

"Well, it ain't plated and it ain't painted," the woman muttered.

"Ma'am, I'm telling ya, this is as real as the day is long," JJ said.

"It looks like somebody tried to melt it down," she snapped back.

"My mom," JJ said quickly. "She had all this jewelry laying around the house and she thought it was best to–to melt it down. To 'consolidate' it."

The woman placed it on the scale. "Seven pounds? That's a lot of earrings."

"Oaky, to be honest ma'am," JJ said. "It's really hard to see my mom fall apart with Alzheimer's."

"Gimme a minute," the woman said with a look, walking into the back of the shop.

"Take your time, ma'am," JJ said.

JJ and Cory exchanged a grin as the woman went into the back, taking a minute to talk to someone.

They gave each other a fist bump, hoping that this woman would agree to their price.