HaâŚrunk runk runk runk runk. HaaaâŚrunk runk runk runk runk. HaaaaâŚ.. runkâŚâŚ........... runkâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚ.. runkâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚ wooo.
âBloody thing. Rotten sodding rust bucket.â I turned the starter key one more time and got a dying whimper, then silence.
I could have cried. I knew it would cost me money I could ill afford to get the thing fixed. Like most people in our street I owned a clapped out old car simply because I and they couldnât afford to get anything better. We were like dogs chasing our tails. We could never save enough money to get a decent car because we were always spending our money trying to keep the cars we had going.
I should explain. Iâm a fifty year old widow, name of Belinda, living on government welfare money. Iâd get a job if I could, but I have few if any skills, and at fifty employers donât want you. I live in a street on an estate of government houses occupied mainly by people who, like me, are always strapped for money.
I got out of the car and lifted the bonnet. I had no idea what I was looking at and for.
Gloria next door looked over the low fence. âGot troubles?â
âYes, bloody thing wonât start, and now Iâve run the battery down trying.â
Gloria was a widow like me, but she didnât live alone. She had an unmarried son living with her, Alan by name. A bloody good looking fellow of about nineteen or twenty, and very bright. Heâd get out of this area one day and go and live in one of those posh suburbs. Probably marry some well off bird.
Funny thing about Alan. Iâd never seen him with a girl, and his mum said he wasnât all that interested. Too busy âgetting onâ, as she put it. Heâd got or won some sort of grant and was at university studying engineering.
âHey,â said Gloria, âAlanâs at home today. Would you like him to have a look at it?â
âWould he?â
âCourse he would. Iâll fetch him.â
Two minutes later out strode Alan, very purposeful.
âTrouble?â He asked.
âWonât start.â
âLetâs have a look.â
He stuck his head under the bonnet and began to fiddle with things. After a while he looked up and said, âTurn it over, will you?â
âCanât, batteryâs flat.â
âAh! Iâll get my charger and weâll give it a quick burst. How about a cup of tea while we wait?â
âRight.â
He made off in the direction of his shed and I went indoors to make the tea.
Five minutes later he was tapping at the door and I yelled, âCome in.â
We drank our tea and chatted on about his studies and the street gossip, and so on. Then he said, âShould be able to turn it over now.â
We went out and he stuck his head under the bonnet again. âTurn it over now,â he called.
I turned the key and got the HaâŚrunk runks again.
He came out from under the bonnet and said, âTiming has slipped and the plugs are buggered. I can fix the timing, but can you afford new plugs?â
âSuppose Iâll have to if I want the thing to start.â
âRight. Iâll go off and buy the plugs and you can pay me when I get back. Okay?
âYes.â
Off he went in his car. Iâd been all dressed up to go out on a visit to an old friend, but as it looked like I wouldnât be going now, I decided to change.
I stripped off down to my panties and being a warm day I put on a pair of shorts and a top. I hate bras and only wear them when Iâm going out in company, and not counting Alan as company, I removed the lousy things and let myself swing free. Of course, the trouble is, Iâve got plenty to swing free. Joe used to enjoy himself enormously with what he called my âlove lumpsâ before he got sick and died. God, I miss him.
Alan came back and got his head under the bonnet again and fiddled around for half an hour or more. I got down to some work around the house and let him get on with it.
Iâd seen Gloria go out, so as it was approaching lunch time I went out and asked Alan if heâd like to have lunch with me.
âIf itâs not too much trouble, Belinda,â he replied, âmumâs gone out for the afternoon, so Iâd have to get my own. ErâŚjust turn it over, will you?â
This time it ha runked, then fluttered into life.
Alan reappeared from under the bonnet and said, âGot it going, but she badly needs a service. Would you like me to do it for you some time?â
âWould you really, Alan? How much would it cost, and by the way, how much for the things you bought?
âHave them on me,â he said, smiling, âand Iâm sure we can come to some arrangement about the service.â
âWell, if youâre sure, I mean, I donât want to imposeâŚâ
âYou wonât impose, Bel,â he replied. âBe my pleasure to do it for you. I canât do it today because Iâve got a lecture to go to this afternoon, but how about tomorrow? Say, nine oâclock?â
âThat is kind of you, Alan. Are you sure I canât pay you?â