"This might be harder than we thought."
It was their last stop of the day, Rey stood in the center of a large gravel parking lot, surrounded by a graveyard of gutted cars and trucks, their rusting skeletons sprouting weeds and acting as homes for several different types of wildlife. As she spoke, a horde of chipmunks scrambled out from the underbelly of an emaciated Chevy Trailblazer. The first three prospects were a no-go for various reasons: the first, belonging to one of Ben's friends from high school, had no seats. At all. They were just gone. The second was Ben's old neighbor, a sweet old lady who was always yelling so she could hear herself and make sure she was talking, and the car reeked of cigarette smoke and mothballs, along with the uncanny stench of rotting meat. The third visit was to his girlfriend from ninth grade, who was "still in love with him" and "didn't have a car to sell but was so happy he had messaged her that she said yes anyway". Needless to say, they didn't stick around long. Rey was starting to feel the disappointment weighing on her shoulders, and sighed heavily, her breath materializing as a little cloud.
Ben knocked his shoulder into hers, casting an easy smile towards her. "Open mind, right?" As he turned away, he wrapped his coat around his body tighter to ward off the blustery wind that swept past. "If we don't freeze out here first, that is." He glanced up toward the sky, squinting at the pale clouds and gray sunlight. He should be here any minute now...
As if on cue, a guttural moan from the far side of the lot drew their attention. Rey nearly fell over when she caught sight of the man they came here to meet.
The tallest, hairiest man she had ever seen was loping toward them at surprising fast pace, given the streaks of gray coloring the caramel hue of his long beard and ponytail. He was dressed in a brown bomber jacket and brown pants with a bandolier with small silver orbs slung across his chest. He started waving his arms, also covered in thick, curly hair, and contorting his hands, making strange grunting noises. Rey was taken aback for a moment, startled and confused, before Ben starting mimicking the man, only less rushed and more concise.
Sign language.
"Rey, this is my Uncle Chewie," Ben introduced the two of them to each other, speaking for one, signing for the other. "He's been deaf ever since a group of rebels attacked his schoolhouse in Uganda when he was three years old. A gun was fired right next to him and it blew his eardrums to hell. He never learned how to talk properly, so the grunting is another way to communicate. I grew up with him, so trust me, I understand most of what he says." He signed something to his uncle, and Chewie chortled and signed back. "He says you're cute," Ben informed her with a grin.
"How do I say thank you?" He demonstrated and Rey repeated him, raising a flat palm to her mouth and then lowering it to she held her arm out in front of her, elbow tucked at her side.
Ben rapidly translated his reply: You're welcome.
_SW_
They moved on from the graveyard toward another lot behind the large farmhouse and barn/garage Chewie owned and ran his mechanic shop from. A diverse assortment of vehicles were parked in a neat line, in models ranging from a mint-green VW Bug to a creamsicle Ford F-100.
Ben and Chewie were signing back and forth, engaged in a conversation about the cars, and Ben took the liberty of narrating.
What's your friend looking for?
Something simple, maybe vintage.
Anything older than me is considered vintage, right?
Ben chuckled and moved to the row of cars, tossing a casual once-over for each on before moving on, signaling his opinion as he went.
Too small, about the Bug.
Maybe, if he were a high school dropout, about a Grand Prix.
Soccer mom car, about a Dodge Minivan.
Lots of character, about the F-100.
"Now this!" He exclaimed, holding out his hands, before remembering to sign to his uncle, "This is a car I wouldn't mind him driving around in!" He ran his fingertips over the sleek crimson hood of a sedan with thick black stripes lining the sides. A 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner in almost pristine condition, the leather cab seat reupholstered with gleaming black leather. "It's a stick, and just the front seats, but I think he'll survive." Ben circled the car, popping open the hood and taking a peek inside. He motioned for Rey and Chewie to join him. Ben listened to her appraisal of the engine, battery, and, to him, a whole bunch of other car-stuff.
I've been trying to get rid of this for months, Chewie signed with a grin. It's yours for nine.
"Nine thousand? That'll be hard to swing," Ben said, his mouth in a grim line. A confident nod from Rey sealed the deal.
We'll take it.
_SW_
Poe was still moping around the house when they returned some time later. A heavy rain roared outside the windows of the little cottage, and Finn had attempted to build up a flame in the fireplace, but had only succeeded in filling the living room with smoke. Rey came through the front door, immediately coughing as the hazy air entered her lungs.
"Jeez!" Ben muttered, moving past her, waving his hands to clear the air. "You guys trying to burn the whole damn house down?" he crossed the room in four long strides and popped open a window, the pitter-patter of rain on the windowsill seeming to echo throughout the otherwise silent space.
Rey glanced around the room, her eyes darting from Poe, slouched on the loveseat, wrapped in a crocheted blanket, to Finn, placing a box of matches back in a kitchen drawer, to Ben, who cast her a helpless look. "That's it," She announced, marching over and yanking Poe from his seat. "Stop being a baby and look out the front window."
It was almost comical, how Poe dropped both his blanket and his jaw at the exact same time, as he peered out the window and spotted the bright red car through the mist. "No way!" He turned to his friends, his expression that of complete disbelief. "Is that a '73 Plymouth?" Rey and Ben nodded in sync, and Poe let out a giddy laugh. "No way that car is for me!"
"Well, it is, for a quarter of nine thousand dollars," Rey answered, sinking into the couch with a contented sigh. "That's the down payment."
Poe covered his mouth and chuckled, still gazing out at the vehicle. "You guys are the best."
"I know," Finn replied, wrapping an arm around his friend.
Ben and Rey both reacted with indignation. "You had nothing to do with getting the car!" Rey snapped, half-serious, her arms crossed.
"No," Finn fired back, turning to face her, "but I had to take care of this dumbass while you guys were gone all day."
Poe shoved him away with a scoff, but Ben grinned. "Fair point."
:-}