Page 58 of Baby Blue
“Oh, hello, Mr.Wallace. What can I do for you?”
“I know we have an appointment tomorrow morning at ten thirty, but I just got a job offer and I really need to reschedule so I can go there.”
“You got a job offer? Absolutely. Maybe just later in the day? Three thirty?”
“Sure. Sounds good. If anything changes, I’ll give you a call. Oh, and you said there were things you could help with. So… Do you know of any really affordable day cares anywhere near me?”
“Is your neighbor no longer watching the baby?” Ms.Parker asked.
“Oh, yes, ma’am. She is. But if I get a good job and can afford it, I’d like to give her at least a couple of days a week off. You know, when she can just relax and not have to watch Indigo.”
“That’s a good plan. I don’t know of any with openings right off, but I’ll ask around and let you know tomorrow.”
Blue smiled to himself. “Thanks. See you tomorrow.” He hung up and sighed.
The writing gig was giving him some money. Now Mr.Wentworth wanted him to come to work for the company. Everything was looking up.
Indigo made that barking squirrel sound she loved to shoot out. “I know, I know. You want me to play the guitar and sing. Okay, hang on.” Blue grabbed his guitar and started strumming. In minutes, he’d worked out the chorus of the song and had it on the run while Indigo squealed and kicked her legs. She was his greatest cheerleader.
ChuckWentworth wasn’t at allwhat Blue had expected. He was a stuffy, uptight little man with a pinched face and a shrillvoice. “My father gave me instructions to hire you, but I don’t have to if I don’t think you’re a good fit.”
Blue nodded. “And I think that’s fair.”
“So he says you’re a very good mechanic. Said something about intuition,” Chuck said.
“Yes, sir. He told me that too.”
Chuck frowned. “So you’re ASE certified?”
Blue’s heart plummeted into his shoes. “No, sir. I’m not.”
Chuck shrugged. “No big deal. We can send you for your certification. I’ve even got a couple of guys who’ll help you study.”
“Great. I’d appreciate that.”
“There’s just one test here.” He motioned for Blue to follow. When they stepped out of the garage and onto the back lot, Chuck walked up to a huge pickup truck. He slapped the fender and said, “This.”
“What?”
“It’s not running right and none of those boneheads in the shop know what’s wrong with it. Let’s see if you can figure it out.” With that, Chuck handed him the keys.
Blue got in and started the truck, but it seemed to be running okay. “What’s the problem?”
“You tell me. Take it for a spin.” Chuck folded his arms across his chest and just stood there.
“Well, okay, sir.” Blue closed the truck door and headed out onto the street. He drove for several blocks, but there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with the truck. When he got to the edge of town, the speed limit went up to forty-five miles per hour, then fifty-five. Blue pushed it to sixty and waited.
Sure enough, the truck started to bog down, shaking all over and sputtering. He dropped the speed and it smoothed out, but as soon as he pushed it again, the same thing happened. Turning it around, he headed back to the dealership.
To his surprise, Chuck was still standing right there. He pulled up, dropped it into park, and stepped out. “Well?” When Blue grinned, Chuck stared at him. “Do you know what’s wrong with it?”
“Yeah. I know exactly what’s wrong with it.”
“And?”
Blue pointed to the upper front fender of the truck just in front of the door. “This particular engine.” Chuck nodded. “Put it on the machine and I guarantee you it’ll say it’s got a bad spark plug.”
“Yeah. It does.”
