As I walk outside I get a lungful of the salty cool Arcadia sea air.
"Mmm... Missed that smell".
I grab a pack of smokes and zippo from my back pocket, pull a joint from my pack and spark it up. I take a big drag and hold it in for a few seconds, loving the slight burn and heady aroma begin to envelope me. As I start to let the smoke seep through my slightly parted lips, I turn my head to the right from where I am leaned up against the building, towards staff parking, and there it is, one of my pride and joys, my baby. There sits, my Shelby Mustang GT500!
It was bought by my Dad and he was lovingly restoring it. He never got to finish it in the end. That brings a very uneasy and sorrowful feeling to me. I take another couple of deep drags of my joint to try and ease the pang of hurt and sadness in my heart.
I ended up restoring it myself in the end. It took the best part of a year to finish with just myself. But my Dad taught me everything he knew. He was so good at restoring stuff to new or even better, I would say. He loved engineering and how things worked. It wasn't even his job, just one of his many hobbies.
It's a custom Fastback '67' and has a jet black undercoat with a pearlescent midnight purple/blue colour. License plate 'MAD MAX'.
"Fucking beautiful" I say out loud.
As I'm openly gawking at my car I notice a truck parked in one of the employee's spots. It doesn't belong to anyone who works here. At least, I'm pretty sure it doesn't. It's sorta run down and beat up. Ford F-150 maybe. Kinda beige colour with brown doors.
I take another pull of my joint and lightly chuckle to myself reading the number plate. 'TWNPKS'. I fucking love that show! Dana and I would watch it and be enthralled, not having a clue what was happening. And when we were older getting high and wetting ourselves with laughter, still not really having a clue what was happening.
That would be a sweet ride if done up. Wouldn't mind working on it myself. I smoke the rest of my joint and start to make my over to the truck, when I hear the unmistakable sound of grinding on metal come to my ears. I smile to myself and turn to where the sound is coming from. I'm not surprised when I spot Justin and Trevor tearing up some rails. They are two really chill dudes, a real laugh and fun to be around.
They spot me and holler me over. I really should get back in the shop buuuuut... What's a couple more mins in the grand scheme I say to myself as I am already making my way to them.
I check my phone for the time and see I have been 5 minutes so... and Jay will be here in a couple... and I can see the customers are all still sitting at their tables.
"Yo Max Attack!" Justin says, as he offers his fist, which I bump with my own.
"How's it goin'?" He asks me.
I give him an amused grin for the nickname.
"Oh you know, just blazin' and chillin' until the day really gets goin'. How 'bout you?" I ask as we watch Trevor line up for a trick.
I take out my phone and get the video ready to record.
"Sweet, same here. Thought we'd chew some rails, smoke some 'erb and munch dow..."
"HAHAHA". Both Justin and I start doubling over with laughter.
As we were talking, Trevor went for what looked like a 360 Hardflip and completely failed with the board hitting him right in the nuts!
He is on the ground groaning, holding himself while Justin and I piss ourselves laughing.
"Haha, yo Trev you all good there dude?" I ask through my remaining laughter.
"UUURRGGHHH... Yup... All good". Is all Trevor can groan out - in a slightly higher pitch than usual.
"Did you get that on film?" Justin turns to me and asks.
"Totally dude, I'll send it to you." I say.
Justin replies with a simple "Sweeeet!".
We fist bump and I see Jay pulling in the car park at the side.
He gets out, waves and yells over, "OY Slacker! Shouldn't you be working?"
I laugh and yell back, "Bite me!" He just chuckles and walks inside.
Trevor finally comes over to us looking a bit sheepish. "Yeah I think I slightly bombed that one! Must have smoked too much before hand". He offers as an excuse. Much to Justin and I's amusement.
"Yeah that was fucking hilarious man!" Justin says as we all snicker.
"How's the jewels dude? Still a man or should we be calling you Trevina or some shit!?" I say and we all share a laugh.
Trevor replies "Yeah Yeah, laugh it up! Alright, 20 bucks says you don't land it first time!" As he extends his hand to me.
Before I can reply Justin butts in, "Dude you know you're sooo not winning this one!? Max hasn't missed once!" He says this in a some what amused and in awe tone.
"Whateva' man, I'ma win one of these days!" Trevor replies and puffs out his chest a bit.
I think for a moment and let a sly smile play on my lips. "Well, you do know I never back down from a challenge..." I start to say, as I notice Justin start to film us, "...But let's make it a little more interesting..."
Trevor snorts and says, "What, twenty bucks not interesting enough for ya!?"
I raise my eyebrow and smirk at him, "Money is all well and good, but let's step it up a notch. I propose , I do your 360 Hardflip AND I'll throw you in a Tre Flip and maybe a Nightmare Flip..." I let that settle for a few seconds and then continue, "...I land them, and you have to come and work at the cafe for 2 weeks."
He just stands there, mouth open, eyes wide, until he finally snaps from his daze with a lazy smile, chuckles and says, "I... I, er, well what do I get in return?"
I start formulating the plan in my head as I say, "I will give you the money. But also, I will give you free food and drink at the cafe for 2 weeks. AND also a nice big bag of that Dank Afghan Bud you really like".
He is almost drawling at this point and I can almost hear the cogs turning in his head.
Just before he can answer, I hit him with the final bit, "Buuuuut... you have to do the work in a French Maids outfit!"
Justin starts snickering with a, "niiiiiiiice". Tacked on the end.
To emphasise my point I get a joint out, put it to my lips, spark it up and take a deep drag, then hold it out for Trevor, with my other hand extended to shake on the deal.
Trevor looks to the joint, then to me, then to my other hand. He does this a few times as if he doesn't know what to do first, with his mouth opening and closing a couple of times. I stand there completely amused by his reaction and I chuckle.
He then shakes his head out of the daze, takes the joint, inhales a deep pull, chuckles and shakes my other hand saying, " You are so on Caulfield!"
We all share a light laugh and I say, "About time! I thought I broke you with the offer for a second there!" I chuckle at the end.
I give the boys a cheeky grin, grab Trevor's board and start rolling around the car park doing a few flips here and there to get a feel for the area and warm up a bit.
Then I slow to a stop, take a deep breath, smirk and flip off the camera simultaneously and set off at a lazy pace. I start building more and more speed and pull off the Nightmare with ease. I glide close to the wall and do a Crooked Grind. I Nollie off and set out for the next trick... the Tre Flip.
As I am moving around the car park I notice a few customers are watching before they enter the cafe. I pay them no mind really as I'm too engrossed in what I am feeling. The freedom and rush from the build-up and landing the trick gives me an amazing buzz.
I start gathering a bit more speed and when it feels right I position my front foot just behind my front trucks just at the right angle. When I feel just right I pop scoop down and back with my back foot, plus flick with my front. I bring my knees towards my chest, wait, and bring my feet down apart on the board for a sweet feeling landing.
I stick my tongue out between my teeth at the boys and the camera as I pass and prepare for my last trick, and sweet, sweet victory.
I smile to myself and start off getting enough speed. I start similar to the Tre Flip except for it being frontside and not backside. As I land I know I have hit that perfect spot and I start hearing some whoops and holla's from some of the younger customers that have gathered to watch. I give an almost shy wave of my hand and go up to Trevor and Justin who are just sort of gaping at me.
"Fuck Max, marry me!" Justin says.
I laugh and punch his shoulder playfully, "Fuck dude! You say that every time and the answer is still no! You seriously don't have the right bits".
We all share a laugh and he mumbles. "I can dream".
I roll my eyes playfully at him and I then turn my attention to Trevor who has remained quiet through the whole exchange. I raise my eyebrow and smirk at him. He gives a playfully defeated sigh.
I laugh and say "Dana aime le jeu de role" And he gives me a weird look and I laugh again.
"Don't worry. All in good time" I say.
"Come on, I'll treat you to coffee and food" I offer in appeasement.
They both grin and give eager thanks as we make our way back to the cafe.
