I spotted a scrap yard at the end of the road so I thought I would go for my second task and try and get a car. I’d need one for when I eventually got a job, I couldn’t keep using cabs, my money wouldn’t last very long if I did that.
I headed to the little office, “Hey, what you looking for?” the guy asked politely, as he wiped his greasy hands on a rag.
“Oh hi. Err… I’m not sure…. you have any cars that need work to get them running that you want to get rid of cheap?” I asked hopefully.
He smiled “You know about cars?” he asked, looking me over in my shirt and jeans, I guess I didn’t look like I knew too much about cars at the moment.
“Yeah, I know a thing or two,” I answered amused by his assumption. There wasn’t much I didn’t know about cars actually, he looking a little disbelieving.
“Ok, well I’ll show you what we’ve got, none of them run though.” He shrugged and headed out of the door. I followed behind him excitedly, I hadn’t had my hands on a car engine for over four years and I actually couldn’t wait.
He led us round the back of the office, “These are the ones we use for parts, the others we crush but these ones are ok, except they don’t run. I mean, none of them are complete now, but you could make a car out of the parts of the others and what we have around the yard,” he stated, nodding to about ten beat up, scratched and rusted cars parked there. I laughed, wow ok lots of work needed, but that’s ok it just takes time, and I’ve got plenty of that.
“Can I have a look?” I asked, heading over to the first one in the row. I instantly dismissed it, the chassis was rusted to hell and I hated welding. After looking at a couple I settled on a pickup that I think at one point was green. It had no wheels and no bumper but I bet they had those lying around here somewhere. “This looks good. Can I turn it over?” I asked excitedly. He grinned and nodded, looking amused, obviously thinking I was crazy as I jumped behind the wheel excitedly.
The keys were already in it, I pumped the gas as I turned the keys hearing the whine and slight ticking noise. This was perfect, sounded like the alternator to me, easy to fix, I could replace some of the parts. I popped the hood and went to look at the engine, it didn’t look to bad at all, little clean up and new cables. I shoved my hand down the side and pulled out the Alternator cable, “You have a rag I could borrow?” I asked.
He was watching me, his smirk growing wider as he threw me the rag he was wiping his hands on. I cleaned it up and grabbed a stone off of the floor scratching the inside of it slightly to give some friction before putting it back.
“Can you try it again for me?” I asked hopefully.
He burst out laughing. “Look man, this car’s been here for almost a year, it’s probably rusted solid.
I’ve tried to get this one going, it’s not just gonna be the alternator,” he said, shaking his head as if I was stupid.
I shrugged, “Worth a shot, right? That’s just a temporary fix, I’ll have to change most of the fixings and gator joints but it should be ok.”
He rolled his eyes and got in the cab, not expecting anything by the look on his face. The truck roared to life for a few seconds before cutting out, it was loud as hell but it was perfect. The guy got out looking at me shocked.
I laughed “You think I didn’t know what I was talking about?” I asked, laughing at his face.
He smiled, “Sorry, you don’t look like the sort that knows about cars.” He shrugged, looking at me apologetically.
“No probs. So, how much you want for it? I’ll need the parts too, wheels, bumper, I’ll replace all of the plugs, clips and cables as well,” I stated, taking another look into the engine.
“Call it….. $200?” the guy offered, looking at me hopefully. Two hundred? That’s freaking awesome! Ok, poker face Jamie, he obviously wants the sale.
“$200 is a little steep, you said yourself you can’t get it going. I’ll take it and the parts for $150,” I offered, knowing I would pay the two hundred and it would still be cheap as anything.
He rolled his eyes, “$175?”
I nodded, “Sure, why not. You think I could maybe fix it up here? I won’t be any trouble, I’ll stay out of the way I promise. It’s just I don’t have anywhere to do this….” I trailed off looking at him hopefully. That was a little lie, I could easily get this to Brett’s warehouse, but I didn’t want to be owing him anything.
“Sure, why not,” he agreed
“Awesome. I’m Jamie by the way.” I stuck out my hand to him.
“Connor,” he replied, shaking it.
I paid him a deposit and arranged to come back tomorrow morning to start. I grabbed a sandwich from the nearest store and headed back to the crap hole I now called home, avoiding the drug dealer and the two prostitutes that seemed to have set up camp outside the door.
The next couple of days passed quickly, I was down at the yard near enough the whole time and was doing well with the car. Connor was awesome and really friendly, he was actually a lot younger than I thought and was only twenty three. His dad owned the yard and Connor ran it for him most of the time. When I finally fixed my pickup I was more than a little proud of myself, it needed a new paint job but it was now in perfect working order.
Connor brought me out a coffee and looked over the car a little shocked. “I can’t believe you did this. I tried with this one, I’m pretty good with cars, but this one was dead,” he said, looking at me appreciatively.