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l
n drag through town. I knew I was going over the speed limit an
y thing on my mind was get
depend
dered gunning the engine and blasting through the red light, but I quickly realized that this w
I sat still, I glanced to my left at the large glass front of a corner bank. I
r, however. He'd gone with pink, telling me that he figured it was "girly." I'd
take was for him to put out a call to his boys, telling them to look out fo
ighed the pros and cons. Ricky'd put the car in my name when he'd bought it, and it and t
need it, and the few possessions I had, to start a new life
ed green, keeping an eye open
body paint jobs" written in gaudy letters on a plastic sign. That'd be it-I coul
nside working on the cars within. I had no idea what to do-cars had always been Ricky's thing, not mine
the walls lined with plastic chairs, and a TV was in the upper corner, playing some
ressed in a black and white jumpsuit that read "Vin's Auto" in small, clear letters. The empl
that sounded like it was right ou
t job," I said
sked, letting out a bark
d. "And I'm
d his bushy d
working with here? You got a little scratc
For the whole car. And I need it done
nt somehow
't know what you think painting a car is
you mean?
lity job done-the only kind of job we do here-then it's not going to ta
felt my stomach ti
part individually. We take our time, and we get it right. I'm the manager
the cheap plast
to need a few days' notice. It'll take at least
asked. "A few h
pouring himself a cup of coffee. The man at the counter and the man p
w hundred dollars to take out a
at the counter and ty
d of ride
ere," I said. "T
over to the window
e with the coffee. "Might
beginning to feel
etter than a van. Let me take
more typing. More anxiety welled in the pit of my st
urning the computer monitor around to face
llars?" I asked.
a full paint job on a car. And if you want i
nt. Not even half of that. But I needed to g
can do?" I asked, my voice shaking.
lau
he asked. "I mean, it's not my first color cho
head, my curly red hair falling down on bot
ing I'd never thought I'd say. I took a deep breath and spoke
.. maybe there's something
and narrowed my
ked. "I'm telling you-this is the be
f there's something I can do for you. Maybe so
n his face was replaced
he said, nod
xpression retur
e to take you out back and bend you over the boss' desk. But 5k for a nu
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