Chapter 12

"Come on, guys, this isn't funny," Leslie said in protest to being blindfolded. "You know I hate stuff like this."

"Where's your holiday spirit, Les?" Lennie laughed. "Just think, when this comes off, you're going to be one happy woman."

"This better be worth it after you had Brian ambush me with this thing, Lennie."

"Trust us," Paul spoke up. "It will be."

"Couldn't you have just given me the gift card like a normal person?" Leslie asked.

"What, and ruin the surprise the boys here recruited me into? Not a chance," Lennie chuckled.

"Just a few more steps, Leslie," Paul said, "and then the big surprise."

"This better not be one of your crazy jokes, Paul."

"Oh rest assured this is far from one of El Senor's jokes as you can get," Brian reassured her. "Now, are you ready?"

Leslie sighed. "Bring it on. Just get this damn thing off of me."

"You heard the lady," Lennie said. "You may take it off now."

With great ceremony, Brian removed the blindfold. "Ta da!"

Leslie's mouth fell open at the sight before her, where a red Mustang sat. "Oh my God!"

"What do you think, kid?" Lennie asked proudly. "No more public transportation or sinking money into that old beater of yours."

"I don't believe this. This is mine?"

"All yours," Paul grinned.

"But how did you know I always wanted one of these? And how am I going to swing the payments?"

Lennie shook his head. "It's paid for; the boys, my daughter and I pooled some of our spare resources. I figured from all the years you put up with me and then took a pay cut without bitching when things got tight, you should be rewarded royally."

"My God," she sighed, thrilled. "I won't know how to act driving something I don't have to worry about stalling at every other intersection."

"Yeah, we've arranged to have your old one towed to the junkyard," Brian said. "Hope you don't mind."

"Are you kidding?" Leslie smiled widely. "I never thought I'd see the day come when I would be able to get rid of that hunk of metal. Let the junkyard have it; you're probably lucky if you got twenty dollars out of it."

"Actually, it was twenty five," Paul laughed, handing her a couple of bills. "Here."

"Wow, even the junkyard was generous." She then gave each a quick kiss. "Thank you, all of you. Just when I think I know you, you pull off something else."

"It's our job," Lennie chuckled again. "We like keeping you on your toes. And by the way, you don't have to come back to work until after New Year's."

"But," Brian said, "your presence is requested at my New Year's bash."

Leslie smiled at him. "As long as you don't park yourself in my lap again, I'll be happy to accept the offer."