(See My Misadventures with Mrs. Lasalle first)
I went upstairs after I woke. Mr. Lasalle was going into the auto shop and was giving me a ride. We waited at the table and Mrs. Lasalle cooked eggs and bacon. She was not wearing her nighty, but baggy shirt and slacks. I was careful not to meet her eye, or stare. I did sneak a look before we headed out the door. She said goodbye and walked over and kissed her husband.
I went out to the truck quickly to make sure I was sitting in the back seat as Mr. Lasalle and Kevin sat in the front. It was one of the longest 20 minutes of my life. Mr. Lasalle listened to country music and chain smoked. Kevin asked me about leaving the party. "It wasn't even 11 pm. Were you tired or something."
"No. Just bored."
They dropped me off and I felt relieved that Kevin didn't ask me any more questions about the previous night.
A few days went by, and I dwelled on what had happened that night. How could I not? It was the most amazing thing that had ever happened to me. I couldn't stop thinking about it and reliving the experience. I felt compelled to see her again. I biked over to the auto shop on Wednesday hoping to run into her. She was not there, and I made the excuse that I wanted Kevin to look over some ads from the Auto Trader.
"You still don't have a car Willy?" Mr. Lasalle asked.
"I drive my parents. I was thinking of getting my own. I will need it for college."
"Kevin and I will keep an eye out for one."
He asked me my price limit and I told him.
I biked home disappointed that she was not there. I knew they finished at 5pm and would be going home, so I thought I could risk calling her just before 5. She would probably be in her kitchen and answer the phone. I knew that there were multiple phones in the house, so I would have to be careful what I said. I called.
"Mrs. Lasalle?"
"Will?"
"Hi Mrs. Lasalle. I left my hat at your house, I think. Baseball cap. Black."
She paused for a while. I assumed my call was confusing her, especially since I wasn't actually saying what I wanted to say.
"I might have left it at my aunt's house. You might not find it. I mean don't spend too much time looking. I mean... umm."
I waited. She didn't say anything. Then after what seemed an eternity she said "If I find it, I will bring it to the Shop on Sunday. I get there around one. Can you come by?"
"Yes. I will be there for sure."
"Ok."
She hung up. I almost started shaking. I did it. I was going to see her again. The shop was closed on Sundays. What did that mean? Was I going to be alone with her? It was only Wednesday. How could I wait four days to find out?
I left my house before 1 pm on Sunday and biked 15 minutes to the auto shop. When I got there, I observed the auto shop from a distance. There were some cars in front, lined up waiting to be worked on I assumed, and one car parked that I thought I recognized as Lasalle's second vehicle. The shop looked closed and there was no indication of any activity. I parked my bike behind some cars and walked to the door that opened into a small waiting room. I peered in. Still no sign of anybody. I knocked quietly, and then more forcefully. I saw Mrs. Lasalle come through the waiting room. She talked to me through the closed door. "Bring your bike to the back." Then she pointed to my right.
I grabbed the bike and led it down a narrow gap between the Autoshop and a fence. I walked past a whining window air conditioner. I placed my bike along the back wall and Mrs. Lasalle opened a door and came out.
She looked really good. She was wearing a blouse and a skirt, and her hair looked straighter than normal. She stood near the door, and I looked down to see her legs were covered in nylons and she was wearing high heels. I just threw on a t shirt and shorts to bike over and I felt underdressed. She looked like she was dressed to work in a fancy office or to go to an expensive restaurant. She opened the door and told me to come in. The cooler air hit me as I entered. We walked a short distance and turned into an office. The office had a desk and an antique-looking wooden chair. There were files and filing cabinets and car parts and boxes on every surface and much of the floor. She walked behind the desk and took the only seat that wasn't covered in boxes.
I stood looking down at her. She was wearing old fashioned glasses looking back at me. She looked better without glasses, but somehow the combination of those work glasses and the clothes she was wearing triggered a reaction. We just stared for a while. Then she asked, "You came here Wednesday?"
"Yes"
"Looking to buy a car?"
"Yes. I mean, not really."
"Looking for something else then." She gave me a disapproving look. I started to feel a little bit nervous, like I was in trouble.