On the first work morning of the week, Jun, Nanette, and I all walked to Whango Elkhart's shop, Motorola.
Nanette was wearing coveralls and boots.
Whango himself was jammed under a speeder muttering.
I had met with Whango on occasion (said himself he liked me and my spunk), and decided to get the ball rolling.
"Hey, Whango," I said. He said I could call him Whango after I brought back his hydrospanner kit.
"Asenath. Long time no see. Who is with you?"
"My friends, Jun and Nanette."
"Pleasure to meet you. What can I do for you today?"
"We heard you're looking for a new apprentice," Jun answered.
"Maybe I am Asenath's a jedi 'prentice and looks like you are too, young man."
Nanette took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"I'd like the apprenticeship."
Whango looked her over and laughed as if this were an elaborate joke, and then scoffed when he realized we were serious.
"I don't take girls."
I scowled and so did Nanette.
"Girls can do ANYTHING boys can do. Except pee standing up," I said.
Whango chuckled.
"Sir, I'm stronger than I look and I'm a hard worker. If you're willing to teach me, I'm willing to learn."
I could tell Whango was slowly cracking on his resolve. He liked her. I could tell.
"Can you cook?"
Nanette seemed startled by the question, but confirmed that she know how to cook some things, but her repertoire was not diverse.
"Good. Then you're hired. You start now. Full time."
"Sir, I can't," Nanette said.
Whango turned to me. "What does she mean she can't?"
"She needs to be in a half and half," I replied cheerfully.
"No. She won't learn anything from me in a half and half."
"There are ten days in a week. Every other day, Nanette will have classes except Primeday. On the off days, she will be all yours."
Whango didn't seem sold.
"How about a trial period?" Jun suggested.
The Besalisk took a half smoked cigar from his pocket and lit it.
He turned to Nanette and glared.
"None of my apprentices have lasted. They were all full timers, and they were all boys. You are asking to be a part-timer, live here, and eat my food. And you're a girl. I'm not saying yes, but how committed are you?"
"Sir, with a roof over my head and food in my belly I can do anything. I want to fix things. I'm good with my hands. Besides, I'm better than those boys could be."
We all stood in painful silence while Whango finished his cigar.
"Okay, Nanette. Three weeks. You've got thirty days. If you're still here, you can stay on. Since you're a minor, all of your wages will go into an account. At the end of the thirty days, if you're quitting, you can take the money and go. If you quit before the thirty days are up, you lose it all. If you decide to stay on, you will not have access to the account until you are eighteen. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Do you agree to the terms?"
"Well, seeing as I have nowhere to go besides back out there," she said while pointing her thumbs over her shoulders, "I think I'll make it work."
"Will you sign this document agreeing you agree? Asenath knows that I have no hidden agenda."
"He's telling the truth. It just says everything he has already said," I told Nanette while eyeing the document. "Almost verbatim."
She sighed.
"I guess," she said while taking the pen that Whango offered.
"Well that settles that. Nanette, welcome home. Let's get started."
Jun and I excused ourselves as Whango went full swing into a lecture on the best types of motor oil.
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Nanette lasted the thirty days and elected to stay. Whango was shocked, but thrilled.
She became like a daughter to him. He even started calling her Nettie, which I actually started doing, too sometimes.
We talked often and met up frequently to talk.
Nanette was (is- she is still alive) a great ally and an even better friend.