Betty and The Mechanic

Gabe was the only mechanic on duty. He was tired and frustrated.

He sighed and slammed the wrench down on the padded cover of the worktable. It landed with a satisfying 'thunk'. He sighed again and leaned back against the table, shop rag in his hands. He was filthy, covered with grease. But that was a hazard of the job.

It was a satisfying job, he had to admit. He liked working with cars. There was just something about it. Just something about working with his hands, fixing things. Making a dead thing work again.

He suddenly yawned. Too tired to do anymore. Besides, everyone else had knocked off an hour ago. And he still had yet to eat dinner.

Using the de-greaser at the sink, he dried off using scratchy paper handtowels out of the shiny metal despenser that also served as a mirror. He wiped at the grease smudge on his cheek and nodded at his reflection when he was clean.

Gabe closed up shop and turned off the lights. He double locked the office door and headed out. His motorcyle was waiting for him where it always was. And he headed to his apartment, coincidentally, located over the garage of his brothers' home.

He wouldn't complain about that. He liked living close to family, but not WITH family. And that house, though it had three bedrooms, was already crowded with three of his brothers. They were all single, and would probably stay that way until they got their own places.

But the apartment over the garage? It was perfect for Gabe. He was close to family, but not with them. He didn't have to see them if he didn't want to. Of course, there wasn't much he could do if one or any of them came to visit. He wasn't one to tell people they couldn't come inside and take up space on his couch. Or eat his food. Or use his bathroom.

Once home, Gabe stripped off his clothes, piece by piece on the way to the bathroom. He ran a hot shower and stood under the spray for a few moments before he scrubbed down with as much force as it took to get the rest of the grime off of himself.

He came out of the bathroom pink and steamy and dressed in his flannel pajama bottoms and old black t-shirt. He stopped short seeing his brother Matt. A slice of leftover pizza hanging from his mouth. He let it drop to his hand as he spoke.

"You're a little late," he said.

Gabe sighed and nodded. "Had a tough job," he shrugged.

"Good thing this isn't a race night?" Matt said as he looked at the clock in the tiny kitchen. "You'd be late."

"Yeah," Gabe said as he slicked his wet hair back off his forehead.

"You look beat," Matt observed around another bite of pizza.

"I am, I'm just gonna grab a couple of slices and a Dr. Pepper and then go to bed," Gabe said as he moved to the refrigerator. "I hope you left some for me."

"Wings too, dude," Matt said and chuckled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay, sure," Gabe said and nodded into the interior of the refrigerator as he opened the box on the top shelf. Three slices left. He sighed as he opened the wing box. Half full. He could budget that out and get another meal.

"I wasn't very hungry anyway," he muttered as he took one slice and three wings. And a cold Dr. Pepper from the drawer.

He settled down on the couch, feet on the coffee table, and turned on the tv.

His dinner had been long over. The rest of his soda was warm. The tv was still on. His head rested on the back of the couch. Mouth open in sleep.

Gabe jerked awake with the jangling of his cellphone. He felt around for it. Finally locating it on the coffee table where he'd thrown it hours before, he reached for it and answered.