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

[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."