Sunday, September 9th
Ahsoka slowly opened her eyes. "Haven't slept this well in a good while. Telling Kayla the truth last night really removed a huge load of stress off me. Guess it's my turn to be the early bird this morning."
Lux was still sleeping soundly, she exited the bedroom with some new clothes for the day and made her way to the bathroom.
"Now that I think of it, being a Togruta has its advantages. No need to worry about needing to buy more shampoo, no need to make any hair appointments, no need to worry about strong winds rendering my lekku unkempt."
After a warm shower and a change of clothes, she went to the corner where Bertha's cage stood. "She molted over a week ago, might as well remove the dried discarded skin." She grabbed a leg, to her surprise, the leg broke off, causing the remains of the dried exoskeleton to tumble gently onto the substrate. She decided to yank it out by another leg, this time she managed to remove it intact. She took one last look at the old exoskeleton before flushing it down the toilet. In a matter of moments, Bertha crawled out from under her log, bearing a shining new exoskeleton. Her colors were quite vivid now, the flame pattern on her knees were a bright red.
"Hello, sweetie. You're become quite beautiful, haven't you ? Yes, you did !" Ahsoka turned around as the bedroom door opened. Lux came out in pajamas, his hair all messed up as usual in the morning.
"Good morning, 'Soka. How was your night ?"
"Much better than I anticipated, Lux. You know, telling Kayla the truth last night did alleviate a lot of unneeded stress. You were right all along, it was a good thing to do." She helped him out by preparing his morning coffee. "Here you are, dear."
"Thank you. You know, I did the laundry yesterday morning... and there's nothing else that needs to be done. We have a whole day to loaf around. I spent the majority of yesterday listening to music, so I've had my fill of it for a while. What could we do ?" He prepared her coffee as he was sipping his own.
Ahsoka thought for a brief moment. "Hmm. Oh, I know ! We haven't rented any movies in a while. Take your shower and everything and we'll go to see what we could watch over the afternoon."
"A lazy Sunday afternoon, huh ? Very well. Allow me around half an hour and I'll be ready." Lux quickly prepared himself a bowl of instant oatmeal and dashed to the shower the moment he was done with his breakfast.
Around 45 minutes later, they entered the video rental store.
Lux scanned the aisles around. One was loaded with horror movies, another with action, another with comedy, etc... "So, what could we look into ?"
"We've watched action movies often enough, I think a comedy would be a nice change of pace." She stopped at a particular title. She looked at the box art in detail. There was a mustached man wearing a red shirt with a woman that looked to be wearing a wedding gown on his shoulders. There was a fat officer standing next to him looking in anger. There was also a large truck which the mustached man seemed to be sitting upon. There was also a possible quote from the film. "What we have here is a total lack of respect for the law !"
She motioned to Lux whom was looking at other titles. "Hey, Lux. Look at this one here ! "Smokey and the Bandit" Starring Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason, Sally Field and Jerry Reed. This could be good !"
"We might as well bring the sequel, 'Soka. Look ! "Smokey and the Bandit II" Looking at the box art, it does look like something will occur in a desert of sorts. So, we're going with those two ?" Ahsoka nodded. In a moment, both rentals were paid and they were on their way back to the apartment.
Around 1:30 pm, they loaded the cassette for the first film. They rewinded the film to make sure they didn't miss anything. By the middle of the film, they became quite familiar with the characters of Bandit, Frog, Snowman, Fred and Sheriff Justice.
Bandit was driving a black Trans Am. Snowman was driving a large semi-truck with a cargo of 400 cases of Coors beer, accompanied by his disobedient Basset Hound named Fred. Sheriff Justice kept on pursuing Bandit only because he picked up Frog on the side of the road. She was supposed to marry Justice's incompetent son, Junior... and she ran off. Bandit and Snowman's job was to deliver the beer from Texarkana, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia... in 28 hours or less. By the end of the movie, Ahsoka had burst out in laughter on a few occasions, sometimes struggling to control herself.
During a scene, they are contacting each other through CB.
Snowman : Break for that Bandit One !
Bandit : Yeah Snowman, come on back !
Snowman : There was a Texas Bubblegum Machine on your back door !
Frog : A Texas Bubblegum Machine ?
Bandit : Yeah, I saw him !
Sheriff Justice tries to pass in front of Snowman's truck and he is quickly shoved to the side of the road.
Snowman : You ain't gonna believe this, but that crazy sombitch tried to drive up in front of my truck !
Bandit : What's a Texas county mountie doing in Arkansas ?
Snowman : I don't know.
Frog : I don't know.
Bandit looks at her.
Frog : I don't know !
Bandit : Well who the hell knows ?
Snowman : I really don't know.
Bandit tosses his CB onto the dashboard in frustration.
In another scene, Snowman stopped for a short while to meet with Bandit and Frog and allow Frog to give burgers to Fred. After Bandit and Frog were speeding away in the Trans Am, Fred decided it was a good time to take a swim in the nearby pond.
Snowman : Fred ! Hey, Fred ! Don't make me come after you !
Fred swims further into the pond.
Snowman : Get over here, Fred ! *Walks up to Fred and picks him up*
Fred whines as Snowman takes him back to the truck.
Snowman : I'm in a hurry, you wanna take a swim ! You just drive me crazy, Fred ! You drive me crazy !
Fred whines some more.
Snowman : What is the matter with you, Fred ?! That's it with you and truck driving, I'll tell you that !
Fred : WOOF !
In another scene, Snowman finds himself pursued by a motorcycle cop.
Snowman : *Whistles until he hears the police siren* Oh no ! Hey, Bandit ! Hey, Bandit ! Listen to this ! *Places CB outside his window so the siren can be heard clearly* You know who that is ? That'd be the Evel Knievel ! He snuck in my back door when I wasn't looking ! You'd better flip-flop back here and gimme' a hand, son, or we gonna be in a heap of trouble ! Please roger that transmission !
Bandit : Hold on to Fred, son ! Here comes the cavalry !
Snowman is pulled over.
Motorcycle Cop : What were you doing, going at 96 miles an hour ?!
Snowman : I was doing 96 miles an hour ?
Motorcycle Cop : Damn right you were !
Snowman : I didn't know this truck could go 96 miles an hour !
Motorcycle Cop : When the judge gets to you, he'll turn you every way but loose. It's time you truckers learn these roads don't belong to you !
The Trans Am arrives and brakes right in front of the motorcycle. Frog whistles at the cop and... flips him the bird ! They head out, causing the cop to leave Snowman and pursue Bandit and Frog instead.
Snowman : You be careful, you hear ?
Snowman resumes his driving.
After the first movie, they took a break and made themselves quick sandwiches before watching the second movie. Several hours later, both were exhausted by laughter.
"Ha ha ha, these movies were certainly worth it, 'Soka ! I don't think I've laughed so much in a very long time ! Definitely what I would consider "good" comedies." Lux wiped tears from his eyes.
"The part where the truckers were wrecking the police cars was amazing ! I loved every bit of it ! So glad to have decided to try these out." Ahsoka's chest hurt from all the laughing.
On Monday morning, Lux arrived at his work an hour ahead of schedule. Mr. Smith had just finished receiving his new supply for the week.
"Bonteri, you're an hour early ! Why are you here ?"
"Hello, Mr. Smith. I just couldn't stay at home no longer, twiddling my thumbs and doing nothing. Perhaps we can get a head start on our day and I could help you unload those supplies."
Mr. Smith shook his head. "It's not that I don't want you to help me, son. Come in my office, we need to talk."
Lux felt anxious all of a sudden. "I didn't do anything wrong recently, have I ?" He entered his manager's office.
"No, you haven't done anything wrong at all. Sit down, and listen to what I have to tell you." He motioned to a seat.
Mr. Smith hesitated for a moment. "Lux, have you ever felt that you could do so much more ?"
Lux was taken by surprise. "Mr. Smith... I'm not sure what you mean..."
"You're an intelligent man, you're young. You have a wife to support on top of all that. Tell me... do the two of you expect to have children in the future ?"
Lux hesitated to answer. "Well... yes. It has been mentioned in passing. But what does us having children have to do with my job ? I don't understand."
"Lux... Let's be realistic. You're simply not going to be able to provide for your children on an 8$ an hour salary. You know this place by now. It's a poor neighborhood. There is simply no possibility for added benefits such as a raise. I'm sorry. I'm barely breaking even with this business as it is.
And I can't help but feel that you're wasting valuable potential by working here. I appreciate what you do for me. I really do ! But you will not be able to support a family by working here. Look elsewhere, aim high. I know you can do this. For yourself. For your wife. For your future children. Please think about this."
"Very well. If you don't mind, I'll began by stocking the shelves and do some cashier work in between."
"Of course, son. I know you work hard and you're proud of what you do. Those are important qualities employers are constantly seeking in new employees."
With that, Lux gave his best and kept Mr Smith's advice in his mind.
At the garage where Ahsoka works, she was suddenly summoned in Burt's office.
"You wanted to see me, Burt ?"
"Yeah, take a seat." He motioned to a nearby chair.
"What can I do for you, sir ?" She looked at him with hesitation.
He handed her an envelope. "Here, this is for you."
She opened it and looked shocked. "OH ! My mechanic's certification ! Already ?!"
"You earned it, miss. Congratulations." He shook her hand.
Her feeling of pride was cut short when Will entered the office without knocking.
"You two should come outside ! No time to explain, just come on !"
"What's up, Will ? What's all the excitement about ?" Burt kept cool as he made his way outside. Ahsoka's eyes grew wide as she saw what stood before her.
"Howdy ! I hope you folks don't mind me for stopping by."
Ahsoka looked at the man and the vehicle. They looked very familiar.
"Y-you're Burt Reynolds, aren't you ?" She asked, stuttering.
"Hey, I've got a fan ! All right ! High five !" He offered his hand to her.
Burt just took a look at his vehicle. "What can we do for you, Mr. Reynolds ?"
"Trigger here needs a bit of love. She's been roughed up since my latest films. I wanted to stop at a personal garage. You know, not having to worry about those damn paparazzi." Reynolds explained to them.
Burt hesitated for a moment. "We usually don't do restorations, Mr. Reynolds. But for your case, we're more than happy to make an exception. I work on the interior. My assistant here does the exterior while this lovely young lady here is our mechanic. Burt Blank, at your service. This is Will Stanton and Ahsoka Bonteri. We do quality jobs like nobody else. Give us a few hours and Trigger will be as good as new." He shook his hand with Reynolds'.
Reynolds nodded. "Sounds good. How much do you think this restoration would be worth ?"
"Hmm. Hard to say. I'm sure we could cut you a deal. Say 5000.00$ ?" Burt tried to be fair.
Reynolds looked on in shock. "Woah, woah, woah ! Are you crazy ?! Trigger's worth more than 5 grand. No, no. I'd say more around... 60 000.00$."
Burt's jaw dropped. "60 000.00$ ?! A-are you sure about this ? That sounds like an awful lot."
Reynolds shook his head. "To me, it ain't. Listen, you'll get the amount... if you agree to split evenly with your co-workers."
Will scratched the back of his neck nervously. "So, yer sayin' we'd get 20 grand each ? Well, ok. What do you say, boss ? And you, little lady ?"
"It's a done deal ! Give us at least 2 to 3 hours. Trigger will be as good as new." Burt closed the deal with Reynolds.
"20 thousand dollars ! That would get me and Lux ahead for quite some time ! Ok, Ahsoka, work your magic here."
In 3 hours, Reynolds' classic Trans Am was restored to perfection. Burt had replaced the leather for the chairs, done the dashboard anew. Will had done a brand new paint job, giving it a glossy and sleek look. On Ahsoka's part, she replaced the parts in the motor and the brakes. Trigger never looked better.
When Reynolds looked at their collective work, he was very impressed. "Woah ! Now, this is real nice. Oh, I love this ! Did I say 60 000.00$ ? Never mind. This body of work here... in my honest opinion... is worth at least... 150 000.00$ !"
All three almost fainted. They never expected to gain so much from a single job.
Reynolds was handing payment in cash. All those 1000 dollar bills was overwhelming to say the least. Ahsoka quickly stashed her bills in her purse. And it just happened that her shift was ending.
The Trans Am quickly sped off on the road and towards the highway, leaving all 3 in the dust.
Burt placed a hand on both of his associates' shoulders. "I've never been more proud of you two than I am now. Great work. You've earned your jackpot, both of you. I'll see you guys tomorrow, right ?"
Ahsoka quickly ran to her apartment. It was a grueling two hours to wait for Lux to enter. Finally, he stepped inside.
"Well hello, you seem to be in a pretty good mood."
"You have no idea, Lux. You'll never guess what happened to us today at work."
"What happened, 'Soka ?"
"Would you believe that one of our clients today was none other than Burt Reynolds ? Yes, THE Burt Reynolds. He asked us to restore his Trans Am. We did. And we were rewarded... very generously."
"How much ?"
Ahsoka took a deep breath. "Fifty. Thousand. Dollars."
Lux almost fainted. "You're kidding !"
"I wish I was, but no. Look here." She presents the stash of 1000 dollar bills.
"Well... We will celebrate in style for sure... over the weekend. And we'll invite Kayla if that's all right with you."
"Absolutely, Lux ! I'd say, our fortune is changing for the better... literally !"
Lux could only pull her into an embrace and kiss her as long as he could. This was the break they truly needed.
Woah ! Even with that amount gained, neither will quit their day jobs. If anything, it will help them tremendously when they finally have children. On the next chapter, we'll see the two being subjected to their first winter, Christmas and New Year's Eve. There will be celebrations aplenty. Feel free to leave a review .
