Sorry this took so long, but I was otherwise detained. I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as I tore my heart out to write it.
*****
I get dressed make my way to the kitchen. Jo smiles at me when I enter.
"Good morning." Mom and Jo say.
"Good morning ladies."
"My aren't we the gentleman today." Mom says. "Going to be a great day I think." Winking at Jo, her smiling at me. Mom asks "What's up today?"
"Well not sure depends on dad."
"I think he has settled down some." Says mom.
"I hope so I can't take his continual bitching at me I know that."
"If it gets too bad let me know. I'll talk to him and try to get him off your back."
"Thanks mom, I like Christy but I sure don't want her in trouble either. I don't think they know we even fool around at the pool either."
"Well that's good to know. If I see Hellen I will not say anything to her."
"You're the greatest mom." I go over and kiss her cheek.
"Gee if I get one of those every time it is worth it." While smiling at me.
Jo says, "Still mad at me cuz?"
"I guess not, you really had no idea how dad get over things."
"I know how my dad would have gotten. He would have wanted to know the boys name. Then would have found him and embarrassed me by threatening him. By telling him if he values his life to leave me alone."
"Really I had no idea Bob was that protective of you." Mom says
"You have no idea how dad is Aunt Nita. Especially if he has been drinking. Exactly why I don't have a boy friend of any kind."
"Well I'm sure he is just being over protective of you. I know Connie gave him a real hard time when she and Jim first got together."
"It was harder for him to control her. She is his step daughter not blood like me. Still when she was 18 she was allowed to date. Mom had more say then it seemed to me."
"I'm sure he wants you to go to college not get in relationship. I know Kate is proud of you. She definitely wants you to make something of yourself. Neither she or Francis could ever afford to go to college. That's why he is death on Richard about messing up and not going."
"I understand but still sucks as I have no social life at all." Jo says.
"Well it will get better you just have to get past the rough parts."
"I know what you mean. I have learned to deal with it." Then looking at me "Got plans for today cuz?"
"Not yet have to get past Dad before I can go anywhere." I head out to see if he needs me.
Dreading just going to talk to him. I am surprised when he says nothing about Christy at all. Tells me to help him on a small project for a couple hours. I spend the next 3 hours helping him. Then tells me I can go. Just to stay out of trouble.
Going back in the house. Mom tells me Calvin called asking if you were busy. I told him you were out in shop with dad. I told him I'd have you call when you came in.
I find Jo she is doing laundry asking how long before she is done. Tells me about an hour. I need to call Calvin I tell her as he called wanting to talk to me.
"I heard Aunt Nita talking to someone asking for you. I wasn't sure who it was."
I call Calvin to see what is up. He says he working on his car and needs some help. Could I come over to help for a while? Telling him I guess if dad is OK with it. Tell him I will ask and be over as soon as I can.
Jo asks, "What's up with Calvin?"
"He wants me to come over and help him work on his car he is fixing up."
"That sounds like fun can I tag along?"
"Sure how long before you will be ready to go?"
"This is last basket I need to hang out to dry."
"Great I'll check with dad to be sure it is OK by him if I go. Sure don't need him up my ass anymore than he was. You get that done and I will come get you."
Dad says just be home for supper is all. I go in Jo is upstairs changing. Comes down wearing blue jeans and one of my t-shirts.
"I hope you don't mind I got one of you shirts. Will it be a problem if I get it dirty."
"Oh hell no. Besides it looks better on you than me by far."
She smiles gives me a peck on the cheek. I tell mom where we are going and that we will be home by supper. On the walk over Jo is asking about Calvin's car. What kind it is, what motor it has, is it an automatic or stick shift. What is wrong with it? I tell her I am not sure he did not say. We will find out when we get there. I tell her to watch him though he has fast hands. She laughs saying she does too. Showing me her fist. I laugh and bump hips with her.
We get to Calvin's enter the garage. He is under car doing something.
"Hey what's up?" I ask
"I need help with transmission. I need to get it out to change the clutch plate. Dam thing weighs a ton."
"If it weighs a ton we are going to need more muscle then just you and me."
"Well not a ton but more than I can handle by myself."
I crawl under we manage to get it out with out smashing any fingers. It must weigh at least one hundred pounds. Calvin finishes taking out the pressure plate and clutch disc. Sure enough clutch disc is burn along with pressure plate.
"Fuck I was hoping the pressure plate was good. I have a new Disc but not a new pressure plate. Crap that's another fifty bucks I don't have. So we are done till I get it."
We get out from under car. Calvin sees Jo.
"Well shit I had no idea a hot chic was here."
"Hello Calvin and thank you for the complement." Smiling at him.
"Don't get him started Jo. His bullshit is thicker than mud."
"Fuck you Richard. Your just jealous I can hit on her and you can't because she is your cousin." Grinning at Jo
"Maybe but I can hit on you for fucking with her."
"Whoa there." Jo says "It's OK Dick. I kind of like the complements."
I just look at Jo can't believe what I'm hearing.
Calvin says come on I need to wash up and it looks like you do to DICK. I give him a look he knows I hate that name. Calvin is laughing under his breath. We go inside to wash. He tells Jo she can go to front room Jane is in there. In the bathroom he is asking if she has any boy friends back home. I tell him no her dad is a real asshole. He keeps her on real short leash. He grins saying they are usually the real wild ones that like to fuck like a mink. I tell him you talking about my cousin. He says so have I tried to tap her. I think I turn bright red, telling him no. He says, If I'm not going to try he is. I am about ready to hit him. As we finish I say you better leave her alone. He just shakes his head saying something about fair game.
We go to the front room Jo and Jane are talking. Jane is wearing a red tank top and blue jeans.
"Hi Richard." Jane says. Giving me a strange look.
"Hi Jane."
"Well maybe we better go home. Can't help Calvin any more till he gets that part."
Jane says, "What part do you need little brother?"
"Clutch Pressure plate the old one is bad. I thought all it needed was disc till got it tore apart. Then found out both were bad."
"How much is it?"
"About fifty bucks."
"I could loan you the money for it."
"That would be great. Wait a minute you never do anything unless there is something in it for you. What is the catch?"
"Nothing you will just owe me a small favor sometime."
"I knew there was a catch. OK what kind of favor?"
"Don't know yet. I'll decide when that time comes."
"Crap this sucks, If I don't it will take me at least a couple weeks to earn the money. At the same time to owe you is like a loan shark a small favor could turn out to be a big bite. Fuck I'll do it I need my car."
Jane goes get the cash gives it to Calvin. "I have two witnesses that you owe me."
"Can I use moms car to go get it?"
"I suppose just be careful. If you wreck it she will kill me and you."
"Want to go along?" Looking at me.
"Well I don't know. How long will we be?"
"Maybe a couple hours at most."
"I'll go if Dick won't." Jo says. Then gives me a weird look.