***The origin of this story is my 10 part series entitled "Andrea Millhouse." The two main characters in this next series of the story (Tim and Andrea) are a middle aged couple that have just recently gotten hitched. Follow them now as they blunder along as newlyweds, each in turn facing their own ghosts from the past and learning to trust each other. The couple also has an uncanny way of uncovering decade's old mysteries during their adventures which they are usually able to solve in one way or another. Tim and Andrea aren't always intrigued with one another but they are in love.
As always, comments and constructive criticism are appreciated!
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NEW BEGINNINGS
..."I want you in your suit and tie by six o'clock tonight. We have to be there at seven" she said abruptly.
" 'K " I mumbled, sipping my coffee, not yet awake.
"Have you made the appointment to have your colon checked yet?" she suddenly demanded.
"Not yet, I've been too busy with the stables and coral this week ...but I will soon" I replied, tired of the subject.
"It's important!" she snapped.
"I know, I've just been too busy" I said hoping to drop the subject.
She made no reply but her silence was louder than if she had yelled accusations at me. Her silence was intended to be loud, I knew.
"You see Duffy tomorrow" she reminded me, matter of factly. ...She was using her "Executive Real-Estate" voice now.
"One o'clock" I replied, showing her that I was on top of things and in compliance.
"...I want the stables and coral nicely painted when they're done" She said, switching subjects again - which was perfectly legal, as long as she was the one switching topics in the middle of a discussion.
"White with Turquoise trim" I confirmed.
"What's wrong with that green thing in the driveway? I see you have it all apart." She now said, adjusting her scarf in front of the mirror.
"I'm grinding some of the valves, it'll be running again and out of your way this afternoon" I replied, quickly, adding " - after I work on the coral some more."
"I want you to have that appointment made by the time I get back this afternoon and get that green thing out of the driveway" she demanded now, picking up her briefcase and walking past me toward the entryway, enroute to the garage.
"Yeah, I'll try to get the appointment made soon" I replied dismissively.
Andrea now turned toward me. There was hurt, disappointment and a degree of anger in her eyes.
"Everything I've GOT is invested in YOU now! I was doing JUST FINE before you - YOU and your silly little ass waltzed into my life and turned everything upside down in my world. - I could travel at the drop of a hat, I had my freedom, enough money to be comfortable and I was even getting laid Mondays and Thursdays by that kid at the carwash - he wasn't very bright but he had a great body and he was easy to get rid of whenever I didn't need him around, he was perfect! ...Then YOU showed up... fffuck!...
...I need you to step up and be an adult now, I need you to hold up your end of this deal. MAKE THE FUCKING APPOINTMENT; YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING THIS OFF FOR MONTHS NOW! YOU DON'T LIKE HAVING TO BE RESPOSIBLE? TOUGH SHIT, NO ONE ELSE DOES EITHER, SO YOU BETTER SUCK IT UP, BUTTERCUP! AND GET THAT PIECE OF SHIT OUT OF MY - ...fuck ...get it -out -of -the -driveway -TODAY! ...AND MAKE THAT FUCKING CALL - NOW!" Andrea spat, pointing to the phone in the kitchen with her arm extended.
She then spun on her heel and walked briskly down the hallway with the echo of her fast paced heels and perfume trailing closely behind her. The door to the garage slammed shut and she was gone - it wasn't a FUCK YOU slamming of the door, just an -I'm pissed at you slam ...I could work with this. She drove away a few minutes later as I stood in the kitchen refilling my coffee cup; I then sat down at the kitchen table. I knew she was right and I knew that we were still in-love, just experiencing some growing pains within our marriage. I was also aware that I had been irresponsible in some areas of my life, our life now. I sat drinking my coffee but didn't make the call to schedule an appointment; I was being defiant now and would make the call whenever I was damn good and ready. ...I'd probably be ready in about ten minutes.
Half an hour later I called and made an appointment to have my colon checked and was told that I had to first go down to the main office and pick up a solution to clear my system which I would digest a full day and a half before my procedure. After finishing another cup of coffee I put on my windbreaker and Jumped in the Nissan and drove down to the physician's office in Casa Grande and retrieved the solution. On the way back I stopped at an auto parts store and picked up gaskets, valve grinding compound and a few other items for my truck project. It was now December and Andrea and I had been back in Arizona City for a total of three weeks now, having spent the summer in Alaska - me working the construction season. ...I had just, within the last few days now, purchased a nineteen seventy six Chevy half ton truck for six hundred dollars from a kid in Tucson to use for work around the ranch.
The truck was a no-frills utility vehicle with the old reliable in-line six cylinder and Muncie four speed transmission, complete with a faded lime-green factory paint and a various assortment of dings and dents at no extra charge. Two of the valves in the engine were burnt so I had removed the cylinder head the day before and now began preparations to grind the valves by hand. I had purchased several used valves from a local junkyard after buying the truck with plans to simply get the vehicle running better for now. Later, when Ricky and Brenda got here, I would remove the engine completely and do a complete overhaul. I drove the ten of so miles home and parked the car directly behind the old Chevy, which was essentially blocking Andrea's parking space ...I hadn't even thought of that when I had disassembled the engine the day before.
...Putting on my coveralls and getting down to work now, I removed all of the valves from the cylinder head casting and opened the tube of valve grinding compound. I also opened the package containing a nine inch tall wooden dowel with suction cups on each end, which I had purchased with the gasket set. I had used such a tool several times during my life and was actually rather surprised that auto parts stores still carried them in stock. To grind the valves I first applied some of the abrasive valve grinding paste onto the valve seat and then inserted the respected valve into the head casting.
Next I'd attached the suction cup on one end of the wooden dowel, onto the head of whichever valve was being ground and then begin spinning the wooden dowel back and forth between my palms like a kid's gyro stick. The valve grinding paste was a thick mixture consisting of minute stone fragments and the back and forth action of my hands would actually "Lap" each valve into its own respected valve seat to create an air tight seal. This was the "poor-man's" method of valve grinding, the engine would need valve work again within twenty thousand miles of this job but I enjoyed this kind of project and it was always gratifying for me to accomplish something for little or no money.
Working with my hands always brought my Grandfather to the forefront of my mind. The man had been blessed with the most creative hands and mind that I had ever known. I really don't know what my grandfather's I.Q. had been but the man had been phenomenal, even among geniuses - and he had known several. Grandfather had personally known many mechanical engineers, some from as far away as Germany and Sweden and he had also held his own tool and die patents at one time. His gift had primarily been in metal fabrication and machine work but he had been capable of absolutely anything. Now as I worked, I could so vividly recall the sound of his gentle voice as he stood beside Ricky and I during our adolescence whenever we were engaged in one project or another over those years. Ricky and I with our nineteen eighties long hair and ever present motor oil smeared Coca-Cola cans beside us; diligently hanging onto Grandfather's every word...
I stopped what I was doing and went into the garage, returning with a can of Andrea's Coca-Cola and just leaned against the fender of the old piece for several minutes as I stared at the truck's engine block and piston tops. Gramma and Grandfather had been gone a long time now. Doc Feldman was also gone and so was Mom. I silently sipped my soda and after a few minutes finally managed to shrug off the feelings of melancholy, I still had Andrea, Ricky and Brenda would be here soon too. Pushing myself away from the truck's fender now, I suddenly decided to clean my hands and then went back into the house, coming out a few minutes later with a thick roast beef sandwich. After eating the sandwich and knocking back the rest of the soda, I picked up my tools and began work again.
...I ground all the valves and then began cleaning the engine's parts and painted the cylinder head casting - Caterpillar yellow. Once the paint had dried I began reinstalling the valves and valve springs. Next, putting on my safety goggles, I took a grinder fitted with a wire wheel and cleaned all of the mating surfaces of the block, manifolds and cylinder head to a mirrored finish. I was ready to reinstall the cylinder head back onto the block when my phone suddenly alerted me of a text message from Andrea, "clip your toenails", the text read. Translated this meant, I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier but I need you to step-up and be a team player, I love you. I replied to her text with "I love you", and then pushed 'send.' Setting the phone down, I began working again. The little Chevy six cylinder was an easy engine to work on and I had the truck running again and purring nicely when Andrea pulled up in her BMW three hours later in the late afternoon. She briskly walked by me carrying her briefcase, only stopping long enough to quickly kiss me without getting too close to my greasy clothes.
"Get in the shower now and put on the suit and tie that I lay out for you" Andrea said as she turned and walked toward the house now.
No mention of my engine work was made and she didn't even ask if I had made my appointment. I was rather disappointed by this because I had wanted her to marvel at my mechanical abilities and tell me how proud she was when I affirmed to her that I had stepped up to the plate and done the right thing by making an appointment with a nonchalant "- Hey, told ya I'd do it". ...With this thought I suddenly seemed to remember my mother often saying to me "You're a young man now, son; I shouldn't have to ask you to do these things." ...Yeah grow-up, I thought, as I began collecting my tools and wiping them off with a paper towel ...but who the hell wants to grow-up? I like the hugging and kissing part of being married but not all the responsible adult stuff, no not that. That's Andrea's part of this deal, not mine...
I put away my tools and then checked the coolant level of the Chevy as it sat running. After adding some more antifreeze to the radiator I replaced the cap and closed the hood. I then got in the cab and moved the truck next to the side of the horse stables that I had begun constructing for Andrea. I was quite pleased with how well the engine was running now and a bit disappointed that I couldn't take the truck out for a test drive but that would have to be tomorrow. Walking into the open garage now I slipped out of my coveralls and entered the house so I could take a shower and get ready to go; Andrea and I had a function for Real-Estate people to attend to this evening and it was formal with suit and tie. ...Oh, the things that I sacrifice and put myself through for you, Andrea Millhouse, I thought grimly as I stepped into the shower.
At six forty five we got in the car with Andrea at the wheel. We pulled out of the driveway and proceeded down the little paved road leading us to Sunland Gin, which would take us to Route Ten and then onward, to Casa Grande. Stopping at the stop sign now at Sunland Gin, I stared out the passenger window at the little boarded up Texaco gas station which sat on the edge of property bordering our ranch. I had stopped there and day dreamed several times while riding my bicycle and looking through the chain link fence at the quaint little station. The place was for sale and apparently still had electricity running to it. I would love to purchase the antiquated station but Andrea and I had paid more for the ranch than the equity of our two combined condo's had been appraised at. Besides - you can't have everything I knew. I stared at the station now like a young kid watching an electric train running around the track inside a hobby shop window as Andrea drove the car.
