I was out shopping when I first met him. He was coming into a shop when I was leaving it. I politely nodded my thanks and abruptly realised two things. He was new to the neighbourhood and he was hot.
"Hullo," I said with a smile. "I'm Debbie. Are you new to the neighbourhood? I don't recall seeing you around."
"I'm Tony. Just moved here yesterday and I'm still settling in."
"Uh-huh. Are you working here or attending the college? I'm still at college myself but I'll graduate next year."
"Which do you think?" He asked with a smile.
I assessed him thoughtfully. Big and strong but I didn't think he was a sportsman. He also had a more mature look about him than the students I knew.
"Working," I said decisively. "Probably something manual. A tradesman of some sort."
"I see. Not smart enough for college?" Fortunately he was smiling when he asked.
"Smart enough," I guessed, "but I think you'd prefer to be out doing things rather than studying. You probably went to a trade school."
"Very astute of you. Right on all counts. I'm a mechanic. Just starting a new job on monday."
I nodded and wished him well and we went our separate ways.
About a week later I hopped in my car, turned the key, and listened to it go whir, whir, clunk. Not the sound you wanted to here from your car. I jiggled the key in the lock and tried again. (You never know. It might have been the key.) This time it omitted the whir, whir, and went straight to clunk, clunk.
I thought nasty thoughts at my beautiful car and called my local garage. I was assured that someone would be right out so I leaned against the car and fiddled with my phone while waiting. Five minutes later the local garage's mobile workshop drove up.
"Hey, Joe," I called as he got out of the car. "That was quick. You're not Joe. "
"No. I'm Tony, remember."
"Of course" I remember. "It was just that I was expecting Joe."
"Sorry to disappoint you," he said with a smirk. "Your boyfriend has sold up and retired. I'm the new owner."
Boyfriend? He had to be kidding. Joe was at least seventy.
"I didn't say I was disappointed. If you can get me mobile again I'll be extremely pleased."
"Then if you pop the hood I'll see if I can satisfy you."
An innocuous sentence but Tony made it sound slightly erotic. I popped the hood and Tony started poking around. He called for me to turn the key and the motor clunked again.
He pulled his head out of the motor and wandered over to me.
"Your starting motor is cactus. You need a replacement. It so happens I have one with me. Do you want me to install it?"
I was suspicious. How had he deterrmined that so fast? And he just happened to have a new one with him?
I asked those questions.
"I am a superior mechanic," he said, "and I can read."
I gave him a confused look. What had reading to do with anything? He saw my confusion and explained.
"Joe was a very orderly man. He kept records of all his work, noting potential problems. If you care to check the last service report you got from him you'd have seen the warning that your starter motor was on its last legs and could die at any time. You did read the report, didn't you?"
The glare I gave him told him I hadn't.
"How much is this going to set me back," I asked and was surprised at the cost.
"I thought it would be more than that?" The question was in the tone of my voice.
"Normally it would be but Joe left it for you with a bit of advice. The advice was 'next time listen to your mechanic'. Did he, by any chance, warn you about the starter motor?"