Excerpt



Security? I asked, with a laugh.

Sure, said Coy, taking another belt of his Dew. Youve heard of junk yard dogs? Big Al, here, is a junkyard cat. Excuse me. Salvage yard. We dont say junk here.

What does he do? I asked. Bark when somebody comes around at night?

No, said Coy, seriously and unfazed by my sarcasm. He lets out a blood-curdlin yowl, and I come a runnin. I had me a dog here for a while. Fred was his name. But he was too friendly. Hed just set there waggin his tail while some punk would be strippin parts off my cars.

What did you do, fire him? I asked.

No, I hated to let im go, so attrition took care of the problem. I kept him on here til he died. When the position come open, Big Al showed up and applied. Hes been here three or four years now. Ive took in a lot of strays, here, includin Gary.

I know a little about what happened when his daughter was born and his wife died. How did he come to start working for you?

Well, Gary didnt have no family. He lived in foster homes all over this country when he was growin up. When he was just a boy, he started hangin around here, and Id give him little jobs to do, you know, like cleanin up the place. Evidently, that position had remained unfilled for quite some time. He liked cars and he caught on pretty quick when it come to workin on em, especly body work. I let im sand and mask. Then, as time went on, he learned to paint about as good as any hand I ever had.

So then he just started working regularly for you?

Yeah, because when him and that girl got married, he felt like he had to quit school and work more airs. Maybe I shouldnt have, but I took him on full time. Then when she died, right after the baby was borned, he just about lost his mind. I reckon he panicked. Said he was leavin. I told him if he ever needed anything to let me know. I come in here one day and hed left me a note. Said he was gone but didnt say whur.

Just then the telephone rang and Coy answered. Newhousers. Then a pause. Yeah, its a ninety-nine model. Its a four cylinder. Runs out real good. Yes, Sir, if you want to come by, Id be glad to show it to you.

Meanwhile, a large, balding man, obviously a mechanic, came in from the garage area. His coal-black eyes cast me a furtive look. Without only a nod, he went to a back counter, opened a thick repair manual, and began thumbing through it. I looked at my watch and saw that it was getting late. Apparently, Coy was trying to make a deal, so I just decided that I should leave. Id have to come back another day to hear more about Gary. I waved to Coy and went out. Just as I reached my truck, he called to me.

Dont run off, he said, walking toward me.

Maybe Ill be back in a couple of days and try to catch Gary, I said.

What model is your truck? A ninety-four or ninety-five? Coy asked, looking over my Ford F-150.

Its a ninety-four.

Looks purty good for its age. You wouldnt want to trade up, would you? Ive got a real nice two thousand back here the boys are workin on. Its got low miles. Just needed a little transmission work. Should be ready some time next week. Id work with you on it.

I dont guess Ill be trading for a while. This truck gets me where I need to go.

You teach GED? Coy asked, looking at the Race to GED sticker on my back bumper.

My wife does, I said. I help her out sometimes.

I been after Gary to go get his GED. I said to im, You need to get that education. Thats somethin they cant never take away from you. Know what he said? He said, Who wants it? Aint that a fine attitude? Maybe when you see im, you can talk with im about it.

Maybe so. Ill drop back by in a day or two. Thanks for the pop. By the way, Im curious about your sign, I said, pointing to the front of the office.

What about it?

Im sure you know that economy is misspelled.

Now, maybe its a mistake, and maybe it aint. Youd be surprised at how many people have pointed that out to me. Sometimes, they stop just to tell me about it. We get to talkin and one thing leads to another and sometimes we end up tradin. A couple of teachersthey especially notice ithave wound up buyin cars off of me. I figger you might be the next.

Okay, I laughed. I see your point. See you later.

Be sure to bring you checkbook when you come back. Course, we take plastic, too, he said as I got in my truck.

Yes, Coy was a card and one I was destined to deal with.