Chapter Three: Way of the Wrenches
Wednesday.
School: boring for Sky, as usual, save for when she punched a kid for hitting her in the face with a dodgeball during P.E. She ended up going to Mrs. Getty for it, but ultimately both of the children were to blame and they were able to leave without punishment…..this time.
Sky felt her mood immediately lighten when Chug honked his horn at her as she left the school. But her sour attitude made a comeback when she approached Skipper.
"You see those decals on the side of the hanger?" Skipper gestured to the stripes and star, the design very much faded. Then Sky caught sight of the paint buckets and brushes on the ground. "Paint 'em over. Triple coat."
Sky got to work without a word, carefully outlining every line in the decorations before filling it in again. Her attention to detail and scrutinizing work meant it took almost an hour and a half to finish all the decals with the first coat.
Skipper went out to check on the girl's work, a small part of him expecting her to have completely screwed up the decals. Instead, he found the girl sitting on the grass with a large textbook and a worksheet in her lap. She twisted the pencil she held between two fingers, her eyebrows furrowed in thought as she stared at the book.
"What are you doing?" Skipper half-demanded, mostly out of curiosity.
"Waiting for the paint to dry so I can put on the next coat." Sky said as though it were obvious. "I thought I'd work on my stupid math homework."
Skipper glanced to the worksheet to see only one of the ten problems done, and he had to wonder just how long she had been working on it. He analyzed the girl for a moment before barking, "Sparky! Get out here!"
Sparky hastily drove out to stand beside Skipper, saluting the Corsair. "Yes, Skipper?"
"Skylar Amelia is having trouble with her math homework." Skipper said in his usual, stern tone. "Help her out."
"I don't need help." Sky snapped.
"Based on your attitude, I would assume you're struggling with it." Skipper snapped back.
"Yeah, but I'm used to it." Sky protested. "I'll struggle through it on my own."
Skipper narrowed his eyes. "A lifeguard would see someone drowning, throw them a life preserver and tell them 'Good luck.' In the Jolly Wrenches, we would see someone drowning and pull them to safety." He gestured to Sparky. "Here's your life preserver. Now use it."
Sky looked up and stared at him, surprise in her features. Sparky rolled over to her, taking a look at her worksheet. He started talking to her about the next problem, but Sky continued to stare at Skipper as though the Jolly Wrench flyer were a complicated puzzle. The Corsair stared back, waiting for her response. Sky finally turned and paid attention to Sparky, listening to him explain the problem a little better. When he saw Sky nod in understanding, Skipper returned to the hanger.
After half an hour of math homework, Sky got to work painting the second coat on the decals. She and Sparky worked more on her math homework while that coat dried. Even Chug came by to help, although whether or not he was actually helpful was debatable. While Sky painted the third coat, Sparky called Rosa to let her know they would be a little late coming home. Rosa had no complaints, especially when Sparky said they were working on homework together. Skipper surprised Sparky for the second time that day by telling him to inform Rosa that Sky would be joining them for dinner. Again, Rosa didn't complain, and only requested they get Sky home before nine so she could get a good night's sleep. Needless to say, Sky was surprised when Sparky told her she would be joining them for dinner. But she sat with them in the hanger as they ate the lasagna Sparky made. It was mostly quiet, but somehow not awkwardly.
Skipper took a look at the newly painted decals, and though he would never admit it out loud he was quite impressed. He glanced at Sky, who stood outside the doors to the hanger and waited for the report. She didn't seem to notice the streak of blue paint across her forehead, simply staring at Skipper. Maybe there's more to you than I thought, Skylar Amelia. Skipper mused. But he kept a small glare in his eyes as he looked to Sky.
"You survived today." Skipper said simply, without any real emotion in his tone. "Let's see if you last tomorrow."
"Aye-aye, crankshaft." Sky replied with some sass in her tone.
Thursday.
School: actually turned out to be more enjoyable. As they went over their math homework in class, Sky impressed Mrs. Johnson by knowing all of the answers and even eagerly answering all of the hardest questions. Sky brought her homework with her and went over it with Sparky on the way to Propwash, chatting casually with Chug most of the way there.
When Skipper was waiting with her, he surprised her with the job: patching up an old jacket that belonged to Max, the human firefighter who worked with the town's fire chief/truck, Mayday. It took only ten minutes for Sky to learn how to sew before she could hand-stitch a few fabric patches over the holes and worn-down areas on the jacket. She worked carefully, tugging at the patches to make sure they were secure. Max and Mayday came by about an hour later, and Max complimented little Skylar on her fine job in fixing the jacket. Sky shrugged it off. Secretly, she found it almost ironically prophetic that her teacher suggested she talk to a firefighter for her report, and here she was talking to two of them. Mayday and Max were courteous and kind, with almost grandfather-like personalities. When they left, Sky found she was a bit disappointed to see them go.
"So now what?" Sky asked, realizing this was the shortest job Skipper ever gave her.
"Now, we're gonna talk about that worksheet you gave me." Skipper said, gesturing for Sky to follow him into the hanger. Sky was a bit surprised, but obeyed as Skipper grabbed the worksheet from a nearby bookshelf. Sparky helped Sky onto the scissor lift, raising her up to Skipper's eye level. Looking at the worksheet, Sky realized Skipper was true to his word and most of the questions were filled out. Actually, the worksheet had been attached to a spiral notebook, and every space under each question had a number to the page where the answers started. There were already ten pages' worth of notes filled. Sky tried her best to hide her surprise and slight excitement, only partially succeeding.
"So what are we going to talk about?" Sky asked, pulling out a pencil from her backpack and preparing to write.
"Well, there's a question there that asks if your hero has any special traditions, either from work or family or whatnot." Skipper explained. "I figured you would have a more well-rounded report if you could hear the explanation and then interpret it in a way your classmates will understand."
Sky bobbed her head. "Okay, so what's this tradition?"
"It's more of a motto." Skipper said. "The motto of the Jolly Wrenches: Volo Pro Veritas. Do you know what that means?"
"No." Sky said, the look on her face saying "Duh."
"It's Latin." Skipper explained. "It translates to 'I fly for truth.'"
"Oh, okay." Sky scribbled into the notebook.
"Do you know what that means?" Skipper asked.
Sky paused. "Um…honesty is excellence?" Skipper chuckled, and Sky thought she would fall over in shock. Skipper chuckled. He chuckled, as in actually laughed, in Sky's presence. She began to think he really was going senile.
"You see, Skylar Amelia, there's a difference between what Volo Pro Veritas translates to and how it's interpreted by each and every Jolly Wrench who follows it." Skipper explained. "At its core, the translation may mean 'I fly for truth,' but what it actually means is different depending on who you talk to."
Sky nodded slowly, scribbling down what Skipper said in the notebook. "So, someone might believe Volo Pro Veritas means 'honesty is excellence,' but someone else might think it means….like, 'I only fly for the right reasons'? Oh, or 'I only fight for the right reasons'?"
"Precisely." Skipper nodded. "Now, as for that question about my job, you're gonna have to pay attention. Describing the Wrenches takes quite a bit of detail."
Sky scooted a little closer to Skipper, her eyes alert with anticipation and her pencil ready to write.
Sparky watched the two talk from his view at the hanger doors, smiling broadly. He snuck away before they could notice him, nearly giddy as he went to tell Chug what he discovered. They're bonding! He thought excitedly. They're really bonding! I knew it!
Sky and Skipper finished their talk around five, and Sparky determined they should get on the road soon so Sky could be back at the orphanage in time for dinner. Sky stopped just outside the hanger doors and turned to face Skipper. The two of them stared at each other, but instead of glaring they gave rather emotionless gazes.
"You survived today." Skipper said, looking Sky over. "See you tomorrow."
Sky paused. "Aye-aye, crankshaft." She said, sounding like a soldier addressing a commander.
