Picking Up The Pieces

by Brenda Adcock

  Usually during the week Bridget picked Athon up at school and dropped her off at the diner and picked her up around eleven. On the weekends she walked to Tiny’s and he drove her to the diner after he closed. Because the diner closed later on Saturday, Athon walked the three or four miles back to the junkyard and collapsed into her clean bed, usually still dressed. When she woke up on Sunday she spent the day doing homework and helping Pudge strip parts for customers. So far today was just another Saturday.

  The loud honking of a horn drew Athon back to what she was doing. She glanced over her shoulder in time to see a tall, well-dressed white man in a gray suit climb out of a car driven by a young girl. When the girl stepped out from behind the wheel, Athon smiled. The man shook hands with Tiny and the two discussed something while Lauren looked around and checked out the displays of hoses, belts, and filters. Athon looked at her hands and arms and finished emptying the last oil collection into the barrel. She grabbed a rag from her back pocket and wiped away the thickest collection of sludge before dipping her hands in the mechanic’s goop and rubbing it on her hands and arms. She loved the gritty feel of the gel and was glad that it removed most of the slick, black sludge except from around her fingernails. From the corner of her eye she saw Lauren waltzing toward her as she checked out the last display of key rings.

  “I didn’t know you worked here,” Lauren said, her voice soft.

  Athon shrugged and grinned. “Something wrong with your car,” she said, leaning against the work bench and taking a look at Lauren’s car. “Nice ride,” she offered.

  “Don’t ever buy one,” Lauren replied. “They might be eye candy, but are a maintenance hog. Always in the shop for something.”

  “What’s the problem today?”

  “It’s missing.”

  “Might need new spark plugs or a timing adjustment.”

  “You any good?”

  Athon grinned again and stepped a little closer. “Depends on what you’re talkin’ about.”

  Lauren blushed, her skin turning that amazing color Athon liked and pushed Athon playfully. “You’re really bad, you know?”

  “Haven’t had any complaints so far.” With a wink Athon turned on the water in the stainless steel sink with her elbow and filled her hands with soap to wash away the goop”

  “Athon, c’mere a minute,” Tiny called out.

  She turned the water off and dried her hands with a shop towel as she walked toward Tiny.

  “Athon, this is Reverend Shelton,” Tiny introduced the man with him. “His daughter’s car is missing and I can’t get to it right now. Listen to it and see what you think.”

  “She’s only a kid,” Reverend Shelton said with a laugh.

  “She’s been workin’ for me two years now and I’ve taught her pretty much all I know. I guarantee all her work.” Tiny looked toward Lauren. “Can you start it up, please?”

  Lauren slid behind the steering wheel and turned the key in the ignition. Athon leaned over the engine and turned her head to listen for any unusual sounds. “Rev the engine a little,” she said loudly.

  Lauren pressed down the accelerator slowly. Athon reached into the engine compartment and grabbed the accelerator rod. As the engine whined loudly, Athon leaned in farther and closed her eyes. “Timing sounds off a little. Minor adjustment.” She stood up and looked at Reverend Shelton. “I need to ride in it or drive it to see when it’s missing.”

  Reverend Shelton raised an eyebrow and looked at Athon’s greasy clothes. She unzipped her overalls and stepped out of them. Lauren stepped out of the vehicle and met Athon’s eyes as she stripped out of the overalls. Athon bent over to untie her work boots.

  “Guess you’ll have to drive,” she said. “I’m not supposed to drive without shoes.”

  Lauren returned to the car while Athon placed a protective paper on the passenger seat and floor board before getting in. “We’ll be back in a few minutes,” she said confidently. “Just go down the highway a ways and turn into the nearest housing area,” she instructed Lauren.

  Athon turned the radio off and crouched down on the floorboard, pressing her ear against the carpeting. She finally sat back in the seat. “Let me drive,” she said. “I’m insured.”

  “What about your shoes?” Lauren asked.

  “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

  Lauren pulled to the curb, removed her seat belt and scooted across the seat closer to Athon. Athon laughed. “You could just open the door and get out,” she said.

  “It’s more fun this way. Crawl over me,” Lauren said with a grin that made Athon’s heart miss a beat.

  Athon cleared her throat and lifted her body, careful not to touch Lauren, and dropped onto the driver’s seat. She shifted into gear and pulled back onto the road. After a series of stops and starts, she pulled over to let Lauren drive back to Tiny’s. She scooted over and Lauren raised her hips to slide over Athon. When Lauren paused briefly, her butt hovering over Athon’s lap for a moment, Athon inhaled a deep breath and held Lauren’s earthy scent in her nose and lungs as long as she could. Lauren dropped into the seat and drove back to Tiny’s. Athon saw the frown on Reverend Shelton’s face as Lauren brought the vehicle to a stop and they both got out.

  “Whatdaya think?” Tiny asked.

  “New plugs and a little adjustment,” Athon answered, shoving her hands into her pockets.

  “Can you fix it today?” Shelton asked.

  “It should be ready by the time we close,” Tiny said. “Leave your phone number in case it’s ready sooner. Otherwise we’ll see you around five,” he added as he shook Shelton’s hand.

  Shelton turned to his daughter. “Call your mother. She had to take Devin to practice and I need to get to the church.”

  The Reverend and Lauren waited inside as Athon pulled the vehicle into a bay and popped the hood. She began removing the old spark plugs and noticed a few of them seemed burned. She checked the gap on each plug and set them aside for Tiny to double check. She wiped her hands and headed to the bins where new plugs were kept. As she walked back toward Lauren’s car she saw a tall, attractive woman with dark skin get out of her car. Shelton kissed her lightly on the lips and took the car keys from her while Lauren greeted her and started talking. Athon could easily see where Lauren got her good looks. She carried three sets of plugs to Reverend Shelton and explained the advantages and disadvantages of each brand, letting him decide how much he was willing to pay. She personally recommended a medium-priced set of plugs because she had found them more reliable than the more expensive plugs. They looked fancy, but didn’t perform any better than a cheaper plug. Once she had Shelton’s approval she walked back into the bay, with a glance at Lauren as she got into the back seat of her mother’s car.

  Just before closing, Athon removed her overalls and scrubbed her hands and arms to wash away any lingering vestiges of oil and automotive grime. Reverend Shelton and Lauren parked in front of the garage and Lauren stared at her vehicle. It had been a relatively slow day and Athon spent a little time washing Lauren’s car and cleaning out the inside. Tiny went inside and settled the bill for the repair as Lauren walked around her car, reaching out to touch the shiny surface occasionally. She waved at her father as he drove away before settling behind the wheel. Lauren saw Tiny leave the office and go to where Athon was standing, resting a large hand on her shoulder. Athon nodded and picked up her backpack. She cast a wave at Lauren as she jogged across the highway and began walking.

  Lauren pulled onto the shoulder ahead of Athon. When Athon reached the vehicle, Lauren lowered the window and stuck her head out.

  “Need a ride?” she asked.

  “No thanks. I’m good,” Athon answered.

  “So you keep telling me,” Lauren said with a suggestive grin as her eyes scanned down Athon’s lean body and she moistened her lips. “Where you headed?”

  “I got a job downtown.”

  “When do you have to be there?”

  “Six.”


  “Well, get in and I’ll drop you off. I promise not to bite.”

  Athon grinned. “There you go with that bitin’ thing again.” She shook her head and walked round the vehicle to the passenger side. “Thanks,” she said as she slid in.

  Lauren checked the traffic before merging onto the highway. They rode in awkward silence for a while before Athon asked, “How’s it handlin’?”

  “What?”

  “The car. Seems to be runnin’ okay now.”

  “Yeah, but knowing it the way I do, today won’t be its last trip to the garage.” Lauren sighed and ran her finger into her hairline near her temple.

  “Maybe you should sell it.”

  Lauren shook her head. “My father’s a nice enough man, but totally into status symbols, which includes this car. So where do you work downtown?”

  “I wash dishes at Gus’ Diner on Main,” Athon said. “You can drop me off in the alley in back.”

  “How do you get home?”

  “Someone usually picks me up or I walk.”

  “What time do you get off? I can pick you up,” Lauren offered with a tinge of excitement in her voice.

  “I get off late. I can walk. It’s Saturday and you should be out having fun with your friends.”

  “I’d rather drive you home.”

  “I get off about one, maybe a little sooner. Your parents might not like you out that late just to give someone a ride.”

  “I’ll handle that. Hey, maybe we can grab a burger or something before I take you home.”

  Athon laughed. “I work in a food joint. They feed me dinner.”

  “Well, at least bring me a drink.”

  Athon lowered her head. “Thanks. Be careful.” When Lauren pulled into the alley and stopped Athon pushed out of the car and took the concrete steps to the back door of Gus’ two at a time.

  “WHERE YOU BEEN, chica?” the short order cook, Pedro Martinez, asked as Athon tied the strings of an apron around her waist.

  “Had to get a ride,” she said, glancing at the growing stack of glasses, dishes, and silverware around the sink.

  “Tiny had a last minute rush come in,” she added while she ran water in the deep, dented stainless steel sink and started washing.

  An hour later she slid two racks of glasses into a large oven to dry them off. She wished for the umpteenth time that Gus would buy an industrial dishwasher. It would cut her time in half. She grabbed a pail and mop and cleaned the bathrooms. She refilled the soap dispenser and made sure there was plenty of toilet paper. She swept the main dining area and scrubbed down the tables. It was going to be a long night, but she would appreciate it on pay day. The dinner rush never started until around seven and everything was prepped and ready by six-thirty. She helped Pedro chop onions, lettuce, and tomatoes before they decided to take a break and relax a little. Athon jumped up on a short retaining wall that ran along the alleyway behind the diner. Pedro offered her a cigarette and she took it. He opened the back door and found the basketball he always brought to work. Gus had brought an old basketball goal left at home when his kids moved out for Pedro to use. Pedro tossed the ball to Athon and prepared to defend the old goal. Athon dropped her cigarette and jumped from the wall. At five-ten she was as tall as Pedro and a decent long-range shooter. They ran around the alley and laughed when either one did something stupid while pretending to be a professional basketball player. Pedro had just finished the last letter of their game of horse when Gus stuck his head out the back door.

  The next couple of hours went by quickly as Athon bussed the tables when customers left and even managed to get ahead on the dishwashing. A little after eleven a group of teens who had just come from a movie loudly entered the diner. Athon had been hoping to make it back to the camper before two in the morning, but figured the group would hang around at least an hour. As soon as they left, Athon cleared the table while Gus locked the front door and lowered the blinds. Athon scraped off the plates and dumped the discarded paper and food into a large garbage bag. Pedro scrubbed down his grill while Gus refilled salt and pepper shakers and napkin holders. Tying the bag securely, Athon hoisted the garbage bag over her shoulder and carried it toward the dumpster in the alley. She swung the bag into a large arc and let it fall. She wiped her hands on her apron and turned back to the diner. Before she had taken two steps, a large, shaggy-looking man stepped out of the shadows and wiped his nose with the back of his hand.

  “What do you want?” she spat.

  “Got any cash on ya?” he asked.

  “Not for you. I don’t work every damn day to support your habits,” she snapped as she tried to push past him

  He grabbed her by the shoulder he’d dislocated a month earlier and squeezed, causing her to grimace. “Now that ain’t no way to talk to your dear ol’ daddy, girl.”

  Athon couldn’t stop the harsh laughter that bubbled up inside her. “My daddy? The only time you claim that title is when you need money. Otherwise, I’m just Michelle’s bastard brat!” She pushed him away roughly. “Leave me the hell alone, you pathetic son of a bitch.”

  Hank grabbed Athon’s shoulder roughly and spun her toward him. He shifted his hand and grabbed the front of her shirt, holding her as his hand snapped across her face. She stumbled backward and hit the metal dumpster behind her. Dazed, she shook her head and stood to face the now angry drunk. A car horn distracted them both and Athon saw Lauren’s car pull into the alley.

  “Hey! What’s going on?” Lauren demanded as she stepped from the vehicle.

  “Just a little family disagreement,” Hank slurred. “Take a hike.”

  “Are you all right?” Lauren asked, turning her attention to Athon.

  “Get out of here,” Athon ordered through clenched teeth.

  “This what you’re into now, girl. She’s a pretty little split-tail even if she is a little on the dark side.” He hitched up his pants and stepped toward Lauren. “I ain’t had me no sweet dark meat in a long time,” he sneered.

  “Back off, Hank!”

  Hank spun back around to Athon again. Before he could move closer she pulled her switchblade from her back pocket and snapped it open. “Don’t make me hurt you,” she said.

  Hank suddenly roared with laughter and advanced toward Athon. She moved away from the dumpster, but held her ground. As soon as he was within her reach she flicked the switchblade out and cut his arm. He hollered, his voice now filled with pain and rage. Athon’s head snapped around and she covered her head when the sound of a shotgun blast broke through the darkness. Gus stood in the back door of the diner, his shotgun aimed at Hank.

  “You go!” he said.

  Blood had soaked through Hank’s shirt and dripped from his fingertips. “She cut me, you stupid wetback,” he argued. “Call the fuckin’ cops!”

  “You alive,” Gus barked as he cocked the hammer on his shotgun. He came slowly down the steps and waited for Hank to move away. He followed him, but stopped next to Athon. “You leave now. We finish.”

  “I’m sorry, Gus,” Athon murmured.

  “No you fault.” He smiled at her. “See you Monday.” He released the shotgun long enough to pat Athon’s shoulder while keeping an eye on Hank.

  Athon removed her work apron and handed it to Pedro who had joined them. “Give me knife,” Pedro whispered. “I keep for you.”

  She nodded and closed it before handing it to him. “Thanks, man.”

  Lauren grabbed Athon’s hand and dragged her toward the car. Athon climbed in and slouched down in the seat as Lauren backed out of the alley. Athon directed her to the main highway and stared out the side window into the night.

  “You always carry a knife?” Laura asked.

  “Since I was ten,” Athon said, exhaling a deep breath.

  “Are you okay?” Lauren asked softly.

  “Hunky damn dory,” Athon muttered. “Let me off at Tiny’s,” she added. “I can walk from there.”

  “I can drive you home,” Lauren said.

&nbs
p; “I said drop me off at Tiny’s!” Athon repeated angrily.

  “Was that your father?”

  Athon shrugged. “Hell if I know.” She looked across the car seat and her eyes narrowed. “My mother is an addict and a whore. She fucked so many men she wasn’t sure which one knocked her up and just picked one. Happy?”

  “You didn’t have to tell me all that, Athon.”

  “Everyone around here already knows anyway.”

  “Is that why they treat you like shit?”

  “Doesn’t matter. Pull over. I can walk from here. Go back where you belong, Lauren. Stay away from me.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Duvalle, Texas October 1987

  ONCE THE WEATHER began to cool slightly into what Texans laughingly called fall, Pudge put Athon to work helping him clean up the large lot of his junk yard. It took her several tries to start the gas-powered weed eater and her shoulder ached from pulling the rope. He woke her up early on Sunday and fed her a good breakfast before walking with her to the far side of the junk yard. She spent most of the morning cutting down tall grass that had grown up around the discarded vehicles. She had no clue what he planned to do with the rusting hulks and doubted he did either. By noon her t-shirt felt like it was glued to her body from a mixture of sweat and dust. Her hands tingled from the vibration of the weed eater and she sat down on the torn seat from an old car and leaned her head back. She was so tired she was sure she’d fall asleep. She closed her eyes and readjusted the old, faded green John Deere baseball cap Pudge had given her.

  “I ain’t payin’ you to sleep, girlie,” Pudge’s voice said, forcing Athon to open her eyes. He was on the old golf cart he used to get around the property.