In need of service

[max_ine]

Who: Maxine, open to all
Where: Marchese's Texaco
What: Maxine gets her car fixed

Maxine considered herself quite self-reliant, but there were times she had to admit that a professional was needed. She could change her own oil, but when the car started making knocks and pings it was time to bring it in for service.

The car hadn't been new when her and Joe bought it, but it was gently used. And they'd tried to keep it in good condition. After Joe died, Maxine had kept the ol' girl going on her own. She'd considered upgrading a time or two, but she couldn't bear to let go the car where her and Joe had gone for drives together and made plans for a future that would never come to pass.

She pulled into the lot of Marchese's Texaco ,the knocks and pings continuing a moment even after she turned off the key. "That can't be good," she said to herself as she got out of the car. She patted the car affectionately. "Don't worry, they'll get you fixed up ol' girl. They always do."

Maxine headed in to the service area, hoping that they weren't too busy to fix things today.

Comments

[lancaster_industries]

From the sounds coming from the service area, there was definitely at least one person on duty - Eric was currently engaged in what sounded like a serious conversation with an engine block that he had just removed from its framework while wiping his hands down with a towel. "Now listen here, you. I don't know if you've noticed, but your bloody mates here in America have a reputation to live up to as prime motorcars, and you shan't be messing up the works by giving them all a bad name -- your replacement is already on the way, and I daresay your owner will be much happier with the replacement."

[max_ine]

Maxine surpressed a laugh, knowing just which mechanic was in the service area from the British-ism. She stepped in, skirting around a puddle of grease, and waved to Lancaster.

"Hey there-- I'm bringing my old girl in for service again. I hope you aren't too busy today."

[lancaster_industries]

"Always busy, Max, but we'll take a look -- what's the old girl saying to you?" Eric inquired. "Don't mind the lobotomy patient here, he won't mind if we talk."

[max_ine]

"Well Eric, she's saying --"

Maxine cleared her throat, and made an aproximation that sounded like "Ping-ping-ping-CLUNK".

"And it's continuing after I turn the key off, just for a second. I think she's idling a little high, too."

Max looked over at the engine Eric had removed from some hapless vehicle, trying to see what the problem was. "What happened to your patient there, hm? Looks like it's missing a few vital parts."

[lancaster_industries]

Eric tsked. "Well, pardon my French, but cela ressemble à une panne majeure. Anyhow, that is a Ford Y-block engine -- last year's model, with all the foibles thereof. And as you noticed, it's missing its rocker shafts - because the Y-block has a fundamental flaw in how it distributes oil. If the engine is poorly maintained, and the oil in it doesn't get changed -- as in this case -- the rocker shafts don't get lubricated properly, and essentially just plain cook. There's aftermarket kits to solve this problem, but the fellow that owns this isn't the sort that gets his gloves dirty, if you catch my meaning."

[max_ine]

"Your French is more than pardoned-- I have no idea what you just said. I get the gist though."

Max smirked when Eric mentioned the guy not wanting to get his gloves dirty-- she knew the type. All the bigwigs at the factory were like that.

"Well, if Mister High and Mighty's engine doesn't have a rush order, can you have a look at my girl?"

[lancaster_industries]

"No rush for him - and even if there was, I can't fix it until I get a replacement rocker shaft, and as far as he's concerned, it'll be fixed on Friday, anyhow," Eric said with a chuckle. "So let's have a look -- start her up and let's have a listen, I want to make sure what I hear when I test her is what you're referring to."

[max_ine]

"Thanks," Max said, and headed out to get in to her ol'girl. "I know she's getting up there in years, but her and I have been through a lot together."

The car, a 1938 studebaker coupe, wasn't in bad shape for her age really. But she did have these moments where parts broke down. Maxine kinda felt like maybe her and the car had that in common- advancing years, more things not working quite as good as they used to. Such is life.

Max slid into the front seat, and turned the key. "See, you can hear how she's idling, Eric-- it's not her usual purr. And once I start driving her, there's the rattle-thump-clunk I described to you."

[lancaster_industries]

"Hrmmm... yeah, I can definitely hear it." Eric patted the hood, and then took a few steps back. "Like she's got a bit of a cold there. Well, I've got my suspicions as to what it is -- go ahead and drive it on into the left bay, and I'll listen to how it sounds as you're pulling it in there."

[max_ine]

"Alrighty, let's get you in there--"

Maxine drove her ol' girl into the left bay, and sure enough it made the noise she described. She let the motor run a while longer after she had it in there, then turned the key off.

The noise continued a moment longer before ceasing as well. "See what I mean?" Max asked as she got out of the car. "Poor baby."

[lancaster_industries]

Eric shook his head. "I hear what you mean, Max - let's lift her hood and have a look at what's going on in there, shall we? Good news is, a reliable old girl like this is easy enough to fix. I know you keep up on oil and standard maintenance, and besides, that noise is definitely a matter of bad engine timing. Probably a piston's wearing out or something, nothing that can't be replaced." He cracked his knuckles and smiled.

[max_ine]

"Oh that doesn't sound so bad." Max sighed in relief. Every time she brought the ol' girl in, she was afraid they'd tell her something had gone Horribly Wrong and couldn't be fixed.

"Can you have her up and running smooth by Christmas? The nieces and nephews will pitch a fit if I don't make it for the celebrations. Probably they'll miss the presents more than me, mind-- but still I don't want to disappoint them."

[lancaster_industries]

"Well, now, I won't swear on any religious texts - one, because Mama didn't raise me to swear, and two, because it might be something else - but if it's just as simple as popping out one thing and popping something else in, that shouldn't be a trouble at all," Eric reassured. He popped open the hood to start inspecting. "'Course, you may want to call them anyhow and tell them to give you a lift all the same - 'if you want presents, give me a lift because my car's in the shop and I don't want to be bothered' - even if you've really got it parked in the back and all."

[max_ine]

"Oh I'm sure I can get someone to give me a ride-- that's not a bad idea."

Maxine pondered a moment, looking Eric over. She supposed most of his family was in England, and it hadn't occured to her to ask before, but now she was curious.

"What do you do for Christmas, anyhow?"

[lancaster_industries]

"Well, that depends highly on what's going on at the time," Eric said without looking up from his inspection. "Usually, mind you, what's going on for a holiday is nothing, and I'm either spending it alone, watching folk's decorations and the programs on telly, or perhaps visiting the Marcheses if they're amenable. Unfortunately, machines don't appreciate a good song and drink." He rose and headed over to his toolbox. "Well, you've got some hoses that could use tightening; I don't think that's the problem, but it's no good leaving them squiffy and assuming it isn't before I start cracking open major components."

[max_ine]

"Ah, I should've thought to check the hoses. But well, that's why you're the professional and I'm just an enthusiast."

Maxine chuckled.

"Well, if the Marcheese-es don't have holiday plans for you, you could come with me to my family's dinner. They're used to strays-- they put up with me every year, after all."

She watched Eric as he selected the proper tools from his box. "And I'm not just saying that to get a free ride, Lancaster. It's no good to be alone at the holidays. Believe me, I know."

[lancaster_industries]

"You can see here -- where there's smudging -- where there's been some leakage," Eric continued, looking a little distant. "Easy enough to fix, though." He carefully adjusted the hoses, cleaned off the cooked oil with a towel, and then rose from his work. "Give her a jump, see how she sounds now."

He'd definitely heard the invitation, but it took him a few minutes to answer, "And, well, of course I wouldn't mind an opportunity at a free meal for the evening."

[max_ine]

Max felt a little awkward in the pause, thinking maybe she'd overstepped their friendly relationship. After all, it wasn't like they got together outside of the garage before...

She got in the car to turn the engine over, and smiled when she heard him respond to her invitation.

"Alright good," she said, before turning the key ,considering it a done deal.

Her stomach did a little flip-flop along with the turning engine, but she mentally chided herself for being silly.

This certainly wasn't a date she'd just made, and besides that-- she was a married woman. Never mind that Joe had died over ten years ago now.

"How's that sound?"

[lancaster_industries]

"Well, the idling noise is gone -- but back out of the bay and let's see if that knocking is gone as well." Eric hrmed, eyeing the car, and looked unsurprised when it indeed continued with the dreaded knocking noise upon backing out. "Okay, bring it back in... right, that's the way... well, that's part of the problem solved, at least. Unfortunately, the other part involves dismantling the engine and takes more than a couple of minutes."

[max_ine]

"Well, I've got a few errands in town and I can catch the bus back to my place after," Maxine said, pretty much resigned to it taking a while. She patted her ol' girl as she got out.

"I don't mind if I've got to leave her a few days, really. You always do a good job with her. Keep her moving along."

[lancaster_industries]

Eric nodded. "Studebakers are a reliable sort, so this shouldn't be too much of a problem - replace a faulty part, get her feeling right as rain again, get her humming along again. So. Since I've an open invitation, and that and politeness means I'm offering you a ride, you may want to tell me more of the details so I don't just show up randomly on your doorstep to cart you off to random locations under the presumption that one of them serves you Christmas turkey."

[max_ine]

"Well, it's my sister's turn to host Christmas dinner this year. So we'd be going to her house-- her name is Kathy. She's not married, but she teaches home ec at the high school so she does a lot of cooking."

Kathy was the best cook of the family, really. Maxine could make a serviceable meal, but Kathy's food took the proverbial cake. "And my brother Tim and his wife Alice and their two kids, Timmy and Mikey will be there. My nephews. They're great."

She smiled. "And then I usually stop by Joe's little sister's house, and visit her and her husband and my niece Patty- she's adorable. Just turned two."

[lancaster_industries]

"What time would we be going, and where?" Eric inquired.

[max_ine]

"Around four, and she lives in Pleasantdale Valley--"

Maxine gave him the address. "You don't have to dress up nice or anything- we haven't had a fancy dinner since our folks died. It's just a casual, friendly sort of thing. Good food though- turkey and all the trimmings. Pumpkin pies."

[lancaster_industries]

"Sounds delightful."

Eric smiled.

"So do you have time to stick around and chat, or do you have places to be? I don't mind chatting while I work, but I know sometimes it's possible to overdo the sociable thing around here."

[max_ine]

"I've got time," Maxine said, pleased that Eric would ask her to hang around.

She parked herself on a convenient bench, moving aside a few tools to do so.

"If I start distracting you from your work, just send me on my way."

Max grinned. "Otherwise I might stay here all day and talk your ear off."

[lancaster_industries]

Eric settled in to start working on the engine, apparently satisfied by that. "Good then. So how's life been treating you lately, aside from this old girl needing a bit of work, eh? Things running more smoothly, less smoothly?"

[max_ine]

"More or less. Sometimes less than more," Maxine admitted.

She paused a moment, looked down at her feet. "Some of the guys on my shift giving me a hard time at work. There's a new guy who's got that whole 'Women belong in the kitchen' attitude, and he's stirring up some crap. Doesn't want to take orders from a woman and all that."

[lancaster_industries]

"Bah." Eric glanced up briefly from the engine at that. "What is he, five? He's in a factory, not in a bloody schoolyard. 'I don't WANNA do my job if there's a woman in charge' doesn't fly well in a serious working environment. If he wants to be a bloody crybaby and not do his job, there's plenty of blokes and dames out there who can get the job done without being whiners about it."

[max_ine]

"Yeah, but he's careful. At least right now. He doesn't do outright insubordination, just complains and drags his feet about things whenever I'm the one giving the orders."

Maxine made a face to show just what she thought about that. "Then when the big bosses come in for an inspection, or they tell him to do something, he's all yes-sir, right-away-sir working his tail off. Most of my guys have been with me a long time, and they're alright. But we've had some people transfer in from another shift, and I don't want them to start emulating this new guy. That's all I need, half the line slacking off. Then that makes me look bad."

[lancaster_industries]

"Ah, so just the dodgy sort of fellow you'd rather not leave the important things to unless someone from on high is about, then," Eric commiserated. "Seen my share of those in the War -- the sort of fellow you'd wish would go prove his bravery and skill hunting for landmines instead of getting in your way."

[max_ine]

"Hah, yeah-- that's a good way of putting it. Anyhow I'm just hoping if he's so unhappy working under a woman, he'll transfer to another shift and be someone else's problem."

Max was the only woman supervisor at the bearing factory.

"Either that, or he'll finally push things too far and one of the bosses will notice and dicipine him for it. Anyhow-- other than that bit of work trouble, things've been alright. Mostly finished my Christmas shopping, such as it is. Going to pick up some cat treats for Ozzie's stocking."

She chuckled at how much she indulged her cat.

[lancaster_industries]

"That's nice of you," Eric commented, "giving the cat a stocking and all. Some folk don't even give their pets anything but what they can catch or beg from the table."

[max_ine]

"He's a spoiled boy," Maxie admitted. "You have a dog, don't you? Did you get him anything for Christmas?"

Max hoped she wasn't the only one silly enough to think of her pet as family. With Joe gone, Ozzie was her only companion at home - and it was easy to think of him as the child they'd never had a chance to have.

[lancaster_industries]

"Webley's getting a new bed -- the old one's getting, well, a bit rank," Eric admitted. "Aside from that, tell the truth, I take good care of him most the year round, so nothing special more than I normally do for him."

[max_ine]

"Aw that's good. You can always tell a person's character by how they take care of their pets. That's what Joe used to say, and I suspect he was right about it."

Maxine sighed a bit. "It's hard around the holidays, isn't it? Being apart from people you loved. I'm missing Joe a lot every year around this time. How about you-- do you have family over in England still?"

[lancaster_industries]

"Used to," Eric replied.

[max_ine]

It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened. Maxine knew Eric had come over after the war, and with all the heavy bombings in England...

"I'm sorry," she said, feeling bad that she'd brought it up.

A bit of awkward silence as she watched him work, unable to think of anything to add to that. She knew how terrible the ache was, losing someone who meant so much to you. Even so many years later, it still could feel like a fresh wound whenever poked at.

[lancaster_industries]

Eric worked in silence for a while, before finally making a self-satisfied noise. "Ah-hah... your third piston's approaching the failure point, and the timing of pistons three and four looks to be out of whack. Chances are the old girl would've driven a while longer... can't say how long... but sooner or later, you'd get a hole blown through the piston, possibly through the cylinder head, and your oil system would probably get metal shards in it and need one hell of a thorough cleaning."

He looked up. "The good news is, as longwinded as that sounds, catching it early means it's much easier to take care of. If you'd had to bring her in via tow after she'd already blown, well, that'd be a different story."

[max_ine]

"Oh good-- glad I brought her in on time. Poor ol' girl."

Maxine gave Eric a small smile. "Thanks for taking a look at her right away. I know it's silly to be so attatched to a car, but I really do worry when she's not running right."

[lancaster_industries]

"Bah - when you work with a machine every day, you need to take care of her, no?" Eric said. "She is in good hands, no worries." He tipped an imaginary service cap before moving to mop off his hands.

[max_ine]

"That's right," Maxine said, agreeing with Eric's assessment of needing to take good care of one's machines. It was the same with her factory work- she took great pride in keeping everything well maintaned and running smooth.

"And I know-- you've got good hands. I mean... you're good. With cars. I trust your hands."

She coughed to hide her embarassment over the wording of that.

[lancaster_industries]

Eric nodded. "Always pays to give good service, no matter the task they're put to." If he noted the double meaning of the statement, he didn't mention it. "You'll probably hear from Dominica soon to verify costs and expected time in shop - mostly dependent on whether we can cadge up a quality low-cost part from local sources or have to get it fresh and expensive from the manufacturer. Straight sixes aren't so uncommon, so if you'd like, I can make sure she gives options on both if they're both available."