The Porsche with the Pinstripe Tattoo
Chapter 4:
Sally sat on the forklift in the medical clinic. She looked around. The clinic was fairly clean and modern for being in the middle of nowhere. Sally then looked at the wall, squinting. On the wall were medical degrees. One of them was in internal combustion. The Porsche gasped and turned as Doc approached her.
" Okay," he started. " Let's see what's under the hood."
Sally popped her hood open.
" I said your hood, not your trunk," Doc insisted.
" That is my hood," the blue car said. " My trunk is up front."
" What make and model are you," the Hornet raised a windshield.
" A Porsche Carrera," Sally replied.
" Ah, a German car," Doc uttered as he went behind her. " That explains it."
He pushed her hood the rest of the way up, steadying it. Doc's eyes widened as he looked underneath. She definitely had a blown headgasket. He inspected further. Sally's timing belt was worn to nothing, her engine block was cracked, and her sparkplugs were completely corroded. Doc then decided to check her oil and transmission fluid. He gasped. The oil looked like mud and the transmission fluid looked like oil.
" Sally, when was your last oil change," Doc pressed.
" I don't remember," Sally answered, shrugging. " I think I was in high school."
" Mind if I check your odometer," the Hornet requested.
" Sure," she opened the driver door. " Go ahead."
Doc peered at the odometer. It had been nearly 50,000 miles since her last oil change.
" Care to explain to me why you went so long between oil changes," Doc urged.
" Well, first it was because of college," Sally explained. " And now, it's because of work."
" Work, huh," Doc furrowed his windshields.
" I'm an attorney who works twelve to sixteen hour shifts, seven days a week," the Porsche groaned, rolling her eyes. " Speaking of which, I was supposed to go to work today."
The Hornet closed the driver door.
" Then what in tarnation are you doing out here," Doc asked.
" I needed a day off," Sally looked away, cringing. " Not that my boss cares."
" Oh, you'll be needing more than that," the Hornet grunted then explained.
Sally's fender dropped as he listed every single problem she had. She almost had an engine attack when he showed her the proof. The Porsche started tearing up, but quickly regained her composure.
" So, how long will I be out," her voice quivered.
" About a month," Doc estimated. " Two at the most."
" WHAT," Sally exclaimed. " But I have to leave today! If I'm not in my office by tomorrow, Mr. Lamborghini will…"
" You leave Mr. Lamborghini to me," the Hornet interrupted. " You need a lot of repairs, Sally. And I have to order special parts. Your boss needs to understand that."
" You would speak to my boss on my behalf," the Porsche was taken aback.
" Yes, of course," Doc nodded. " What's his number?"
Sally gave the number of the lawfirm to Doc. Doc wrote down the number then went into his office. He picked up the phone, dialing.
" Lamborghini's Attorneys," Mr. Lamborghini greeted. " I am Mr. Lamborghini. How may I help you?"
" Hi, Mr. Lamborghini, " Doc greeted back. " This is Doc Hudson from Ornament Valley Mechanical Clinic. I have an employee of yours. Her name is Sally Carrera."
" Ah, yes, Ms. Carrera," the CEO recalled. " One of my best workers. Or at least she was up until this morning…How is she? Will she be in today?"
" I'm afraid not," the Hornet replied. " She's not doing very good."
" Oh my," the Lamborghini gasped. " She's not pregnant, is she? No matter. You tell her I need her in no later than tomorrow."
" I'm afraid I can't do that, Mr. Lamborghini," Doc defended. " She is in need of extreme mechanical care. We're talking being out almost two months here."
" Two months, you say," Mr. Lamborghini sniffed then guffawed. " Oh, I get it. You're being jovial. Good one, Dr. Benson."
" Hudson," the Hornet corrected. " And I'm being serious. Here. I'll fax a doctors note to you."
Doc filled out a form and faxed it to the CEO. The yellow car picked it up and read it, eyes widening.
" I suppose I can delegate Ms. Carrera's work to Mr. Buickmeiser," he begrudgingly agreed, sighing. " Alright. Two months. But no later!"
" Thanks for understanding, Mr. Lamborghini," Doc uttered. " Bye."
He hung up, letting out a deep breath. Doc then shook his tire at the phone, glaring at it. The Hornet returned to the examining room.
" Good news," Doc chimed. " I got everything approved."
" You did," Sally blinked, surprised. " How?"
" Oh, I have my ways," the Hornet stated then glanced at the clock. " Lunch time already?"
" Let me guess," Sally started. " Hospital food or hospital food."
" Actually, you get real food," Doc answered then went to leave. " Be right back. Don't go anywhere."
" Like I have a choice," the Porsche muttered to herself.
A few minutes later, Doc returned with a quart of oil and a salad. He placed them in front of Sally. The Porsche thanked him then began eating. Doc nodded then left the clinic, again. He returned a couple of hours later to find Sally asleep. The Hornet sneaked into his office, not wanting to disturb her. Soon, it was dinner time. Sally requested to join the townsfolk. Doc approved, but only if Mater towed her to the café. There, she learned more about the history of Radiator Springs. How it all came to be. There was something she had to know, though.
" So, what brought you all here," Sally asked.
" I love the area," Ramone commented. " It's the perfect place for my body art shop."
" I was passing through and just happened to fall in love with Ramone," Flo chimed, shrugging.
" Me and Guido immigrated from Italy, so we could have a better life," Luigi uttered.
" I fell in love with the town's founder," Lizzie tweeted. " But you already know that."
" There used to be a military base near here," Sarge stated. " Moved to Radiator Springs for convenience and privacy."
" I woke up here," Fillmore beamed.
" The town needed a sheriff to keep the crazy tourists in line," Sheriff commented.
" The town needed a tow truck," Mater yammered.
" What about you, Doc," Sally turned to Doc.
" The town needed a doctor," Doc replied. " So, here I am."
Red was rocking his flowers to sleep.
" Red," the Porsche pressed.
The fire truck looked up then slipped away, hiding.
" No one knows his story," Flo filled in. " He just showed up one day."
" He's kinda shy," Sheriff stated.
" Oh," Sally commented then took a sip of her oil.
Soon, it was time for bed. Everybody was asleep, except for Sally. The clinic was really creepy at night. There was dim lightning, weird shadows, the faucet was dripping, and the wind was making doors she couldn't see rattle. Suddenly, she heard one of the rattling doors slam. Sally screamed. She pulled the blanket over herself, trying to block everything out.
" Darn door," she heard Doc yell. " NO! NO! NO!"
The other rattling door slammed.
" AW GREAT" he cursed.
Soon, the door to the clinic opened. Doc sighed as he pulled in.
" Guess I'm sleeping in here tonight," the Hornet murmured, shutting the door behind him.
He looked over at Sally then went into his office, closing the door behind him.