The Next Two Months, October:
Charlene comes walking into the shop feeling tired. She watches as Henry looks up from some paperwork he was working on.

“I can’t believe you are doing paperwork.” Charlene flops down onto her office chair.

“I had to because you weren’t here. How did court go?” Henry knew Charlene had to appear in court about the fire Kevin started.

“We won, but don’t expect to see anything from Kevin or the guys that helped him.” Charlene gets up and walks over to the minifridge in the office and grabs a cold soda from it.

“I figure we wouldn’t. He didn’t have much, to begin with.” Henry knew Kevin couldn’t hold onto money. Kevin had a bad habit of spending it as fast as he got it.

“The insurance adjuster has already come out to see how much we lost. Hopefully, he’ll be fair to us.” Charlene was worried about that.

“He will. He’s been working with us for a while. So, what is Tonya dressing up for Halloween?” Henry was curious.

“She’s dressing up as a female mechanic. I thought she would dress up as a Princess or something, but she didn’t want to. She said that she wanted to show the boys at school that girls can be mechanics.” Charlene was surprised when Tonya said that.

“She reminds me of when you were little. You would get into fights at school when the boys teased you about being a tomboy or when you came to school dressed in one of your father’s t-shirts.”

“I had to deal with Tom Adams. He uses to love teasing me because I wasn’t as developed as some of the girls in my class. Hell, I did have my first period until I was twelve and I didn’t start developing tits until I was fifteen.”

“I know, Charlene. You came running to my wife when you had your first period.” Henry remembered because he saw a blood stain between her legs on the blue jeans she was wearing.

“Hey, your wife told me I could come to her.” Charlene was glad she had Henry’s wife to help her through her first period and pick out her first bra.
A smirk appears on Henry’s face. He remembered everything Charlene experienced.

“You know, your turn is coming around to pass on what you learn to Tonya.”

“Don’t remind me. That is one conversation I’m not looking forward to.” Charlene knew Tonya knew some of the basics already about sex from her birth mother.

“How’s the schedule coming?” Henry had made some requests for Jose.

His wife was pregnant and needed help with the kids and her appointments. Henry told him he would do everything he could to help him out.

“Almost done. I need to add in a few more days for Steven. He needs the money badly. His boat business isn’t doing so well.” Charlene made sure she knew as much as possible about her employees.

“That’s the boat business. People would rather buy a new boat, instead of pouring money into an old one. You do know what Boat stands for, Charlene?” Henry looks at Charlene for an answer.

“Yeah, bust out another thousand.” Charlene has heard how boats were expensive.

“That’s right. You keep pouring money into them.”

“Yeah, but they are so much fun during the spring and summer months.” Charlene has only been out on one a few times.

“True, they are.” Henry stands up out of his chair “I better head out into the garage and sees what is going on.”

“Alright.” Charlene watches as Henry walks out into the garage.

Charlene starts working on the work orders and paying bills. Ralph and Larry come into the main office.

“Hey, guys, what’s up?” Charlene looks at them.

“We need to hire another mechanic, Charlene. Do you know anyone that might be able to help?” Ralph has been hoping they could get by without hiring anyone new.

“I might, but it's a woman and she’s extremely good with motorcycles. She’s got a lot of clients as well. Plus, she’s a lesbian. Do you guys have a problem with that?”

“I don’t care if she wore a chicken suit. As long as she can turn a wrench.” Ralph didn’t care about a person’s sex life.

“How good is she?” Larry was curious.

“Let’s put it this way, Larry. She’s got the clients, but not a place of her own to work. If you make her a partner, she will bring some more clients to you and make you guys lots of money.”

“Call her and tell her we will be willing to partner with her.” Larry didn’t mind partnering with this woman.

“Alright, I’ll see if she can be up here tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Charlene.” Ralph and Larry walk out of Charlene’s office.

Charlene looks through her father’s old Rolodex. She finds the number for Tammy’s cellphone. She picks the phone up on her desk and dials it.

Tammy’s Home Garage:
Tammy was working on a Harley Davidson that belonged to a customer of hers when she hears her cellphone ring. She looks around for it and spots it over on the wall counter.

“Bambi, can you answer my phone for me?”

“Sure, mom.” Bambi walks over to the counter and grabs her mom’s cell phone.

She presses accept on it “you have reached pigs on a stick. How can I help you?”

“Funny, Bambi. Where is Tammy?” Charlene recognized Bambi’s voice.

“She tearing an engine down. Hold on a minute, Charlene.”

Bambi looks at her mom “mom, it’s Charlene. She wants to speak to you.”

“Bring me the phone sweetie.” Tammy wonders what Charlene wanted.

Bambi takes the cell phone over to her mother. She hands the cell phone to her.

“Hey, Charlene, what’s up?”

“Are you still looking for a shop?”

“Yeah, do you know of one?” Tammy was told she had to move her operations out of her garage.

“Yeah, Ralph and Larry are looking for a mechanic and they would make you partner as well. They have too much work for just them and their two mechanics.”

“I don’t know, Charlene. I normally like working for myself.”

“I know, but they are willing to make you a partner. They need the help and I know you need a bigger place. Why don’t you come and speak with them and tour the shop, tomorrow?”

“I can’t do tomorrow. Bambi has a doctor's appointment, but I can do Thursday morning.”

“That will be fine, Tammy. I’ll let Ralph and Larry know and say hi for me to Bambi as well.”

“Alright, I’ll see you then.” Tammy ends the phone call.

A smile appears on Charlene’s face. She hopes things can be worked out between the two. She goes back to work after entering the meeting into the computer and sending it to Ralph and Larry.