Saturday July 16th, 2005, Dineen Home Cambridge:
Happy pushed the East garage door open as Toby came up the drive.
Toby saw she had gotten some appliance boxes from somewhere and had flattened them, then lined the floor with them.
She guided him into the garage and over the boxes before calling for him to stop.
"Leave it running for a moment." Happy told him.
Toby grinned as he put the car in park and got out.
"You know, we never discussed how much you were charging me for this." Toby said as he climbed out of his car.
"Why would I charge you for a gift?" Happy asked as she sat down behind the wheel. She pressed her foot down on the brake pedal. "The brakes sound okay and the play seems to be in the tolerance range for it. Have you noticed any problems when stopping?" She set the emergency brake and then reached down and pulled the hood release handle.
"So far she has stopped just fine." Toby told her.
Happy rolled her eyes at him referring to the car as female. She turned off the car and got out. She walked back to the front of the car to unlatch and lift the hood up before using chocks for safety. Walking around the back of the car she put safety chocks behind both wheels and moved back up front.
"I suppose we can save the brakes for another day." Happy said as she reached up and grabbed the drain pan from the wall. She walked back over and slid it under the frontend. She grabbed the drop light and pulled it down and under the hood. Leaning into the engine compartment, her hand reached down and felt the belts.
"Yep, every one of these belts is shot." Happy said, shaking her head. "And you have a gasket leaking." After pulling the oil fill cap off, she came back out from under the hood and knelt down on the floor before sliding under the car. She moved the drain pan into position. Toby heard her ratchet as she removed the drain plug.
As she came out from under the car she started to ask when he had the coolant system drained and then shook her head. She didn't want to get mad so she grabbed a larger drain tub and slipped it under the radiator.
"You know, I am always amazed at how much joy you get out of working on simple things like this." Toby told her as she continued working. "Not to mention how zeroed in you are on the task."
Happy just nodded as she continued to work.
"I see one of the SUVs is gone, Walter and Paige off somewhere?" Toby asked, sitting on one of the rolling stools.
"Mom and Paige." Happy said. "Dad treated them to a mani, pedi and to get their hair done."
"You didn't want to go?" Toby asked.
"Have you met me?" Happy looked up at him.
Toby grinned and nodded.
"Well I was just thinking about the wedding and last Christmas for the ball." Toby explained.
"Two very special occasions that required it." Happy shrugged.
Toby grew quiet as he just sat and observed as Happy moved from task to task. Occasionally grabbing a tool or to help hold something. He smiled at how quickly and efficiently she worked.
Ralph came out to check on them around lunch and brought them both sandwiches and drinks the domestic had made up for them.
After washing up in the sink in the garage, Happy paused long enough to eat and then returned to work.
Just before dinner Happy came back out from under the hood.
"Okay, go ahead and turn it over." Happy said, wiping her hands on a rag.
Toby smiled as he opened the door and sat down behind the wheel. He turned the key and the car fired right up as Happy grinned.
"Now it's purring like a kitten. Happy early birthday." Happy said before she pulled the chocks out from under the hood. She closed the hood and took a clean rag and began wiping down the dog house.
"Well, that car certainly sounds a lot better." Ralph said as he walked out to check on them.
"Better not let Meineke hear about her. They'll get jealous." Toby grinned.
Happy shook her head as she walked around the car and got the chocks out from behind the wheels.
"Just be careful backing out of the garage." Happy said while shaking her head. "Did I see a plumber's truck?" Happy looked at her Dad as Toby backed out.
"Ah, yeah, Walter had an estimator come out to give him a price on putting a jacuzzi in the basement for Paige. Just don't say anything, it is a surprise." Ralph told her.
"I won't tell her." Happy grinned and shook her head.
"I also wanted to let you know that Brad wants to come out tomorrow to look at the bike. Are you sure it's ready?" Ralph asked.
"Yes!" Happy got excited. She looked at the bike covered with a tarp in the first bay of the garage. She couldn't wait to actually ride it.
"You've watched all his videos from his school's website?" Ralph looked at her.
"Got straight 100's on each test too." Happy nodded.
"I knew you would, sweetie, but this is still scary for your Mother and me." Ralph said as he cupped her shoulder. "You're still our little girl, even if you are growing by leaps and bounds."
Happy grinned as she stepped in and hugged him.
"Yeah, I'd agree with that. Maybe if she was a little bigger it wouldn't be as scary." Toby said as he walked back into the garage.
"That's a "you" problem." Happy told Toby. "I'm dynamite just the way I am."
"Short fused and explosive?" Toby asked as Ralph grinned.
"Keep it up and you'll find out." Happy winked.
"How's it sound when you start it?" Ralph asked.
Happy grinned as she grabbed the tarp and pulled it back from the cycle, but left it draped over the seat. Carefully she straddled the seat. She pulled the key out of her pocket and slipped it into the ignition.
Ralph watched with a bit of trepidation as Happy started the cycle.
Toby was smiling at her as she was grinning.
She let it idle for a minute before she revved the engine.
Ralph gave her a thumbs up.
Happy sighed as she turned it back off.
"Well let's go in and get ready for dinner." Ralph told them.
"Ooh la la!" Toby said as he saw Veronica when they entered the house.
Veronica blushed even as she grinned.
"That's my wife." Ralph growled at him.
"Yes Sir!" Toby said quickly as he snapped to a semblance of attention.
Everyone chuckled.
"Did I hear your motorcycle?" Veronica asked.
Happy nodded.
"I'd asked how it sounded after Toby moved his car out of the garage. She was kind enough to demonstrate, much to my horror." Ralph grinned.
"How bad was his car?" Paige asked as they entered the dining room.
"Well I'm glad I got a new water pump instead of thinking about rebuilding the one that was in the car. It's pretty much worthless. I'll donate it to the high school's auto shop class. They can at least use it to demonstrate how to rebuild one. And thankfully the two lifters just needed to be adjusted. Timing wasn't too bad. Spark plugs, ugh, don't get me started. But they weren't as bad as the belts. Fortunately it was just a small valve gasket leak and not something worse. But he's good until his next oil change." Happy told her. "Which is when?" Happy asked Toby with an edge to her voice.
"Oh, uh, I didn't know there was a test." Toby said to laughter. "Three months or fifteen hundred miles." Toby smiled at the face Happy made.
Next Day:
"Whoa, Ralph. That is quite the collection of tools and equipment, I had no idea you were so into working on things." Brad said as he walked into the garage with Ralph.
"Not me." Ralph laughed. "This is Happy's domain." Ralph said proudly looking at Happy standing there.
"Seriously?" Brad asked as Happy nodded.
"I like machines." Happy shrugged pointing at her rather impressive trophies for various science based events, both from MIT and the University of Dublin and along with her highschool in Callan. Each trophy had the corresponding project beside it.
Brad walked over and examined each one.
"This is phenomenal, Happy. I'm truly impressed." Brad told her.
"Thanks." Happy smiled.
"Wanted to surprise me with it?" Brad smiled as he turned and looked at the motorcycle that was covered up.
"Doesn't everyone like a big reveal?" Happy grinned.
"Very well, hit me with your best shot." Brad laughed.
Happy grabbed the front of the cover and pulled it off in a quick jerk.
"Whoa, Happy. That is one nice Shadow." Brad said as he looked at the bike. He stepped up to examine the work. "You rebuilt this, from a frame?"
Happy nodded.
"Found the frame at a junkyard back in early May. Took a while finding or manufacturing the parts for it." Happy told him.
"I'm seriously impressed." Brad said as he squatted down and examined everything. "You did all of this by yourself?"
"Well, except Dad helped me put the front end on." Happy smiled up at Ralph.
"By "helped" she means I held the front end in place while she got the bolts in." Ralph laughed. "She had all she needed to do it by herself."
Happy rolled her eyes.
"I still appreciated you being here for me." Happy told him.
"I see you got the boots, that's good. Let's see how you can straddle the bike." Brad told her as he stood up after examining the entire system.
Happy walked over and threw her leg over and sat down. Taking hold of the handle bar she pushed up with her left leg and then kicked up the kickstand.
Brad stepped around examining how she sat and the contact between her legs and the frame. With the thicker sole on the boots she had near perfect placement on the bike.
"Very nice indeed. I guess that just leaves me to test drive it." Brad smiled.
Happy nodded as she kicked the stand back down and settled the bike on it before climbing off.
Brad placed his helmet on the handle bars before putting his temp tag on it. He stepped up and swung his leg over the seat.
"Very nice seat, this doesn't feel like an original factory seat." Brad said as he got the bike off the kickstand.
"It's not." Happy shook her head. "I found an upholstery shop that specialized in leather. They did an excellent refit."
"I'll say. You need to give me their address so I can take some of my seats over." Brad laughed as he put on his helmet. He turned the key after adjusting his chin strap. His foot pulled the kickstarter down and then he stepped down hard against the lever.
Happy grinned as the bike fired up.
As he gave it a little gas the bike moved slowly out the door. Happy walked out with her Dad and saw her Mom, Paige and Walter standing there with Emmett watching.
Now that he had a bit of room he gave the bike more gas and rode down to the street and paused to check traffic and then took off down the street.
"Your bike looks amazing!" Paige said as she grabbed Happy in a hug.
"Thanks." Happy blushed.
"Going for a ride?" Emmett asked.
Happy smiled as she winked.
"Not yet buddy. I can't get my license until I'm sixteen." Happy told him and then he frowned.
"It has to feel weird that you built something to enjoy and then you have to let someone else ride it long before you can." Paige said as she stood with her arm over Happy's shoulders as they stood there looking out from the yard.
"Kind of. But as long as it all checks out, I'll get to ride it on his course next weekend." Happy sighed.
"Speaking of that." Paige smiled as she looked at Walter. "Walter found a trailer for hauling motorcycles and bought it so we can take your bike over to the track."
"What?" Happy looked surprised.
Walter just nodded.
"He's going to pick it up after getting the hitch installed on the car tomorrow." Paige grinned.
"Thank you." Happy said as she hugged them both.
Veronica whispered to Emmett and he grinned as he ran to the side of the garage and came back with a large gift wrap box.
"For you from us." Emmett said as he struggled to hold it out to Happy.
Happy looked shocked but thanked him as she took the box and set it down. She quickly tore through the wrapping with Emmett's help and then tore the tape to open the box. She gasped as she pulled out a helmet done in the same paint job she had the tank painted.
"Thank you!" Happy gushed as she examined the helmet. She set the helmet on one of the SUVs and then pulled out the leather gloves, jacket and pants. "I love them!" Happy grinned and set them next to the helmet. She looked into the box and grinned. She pulled out water proof, thermal riding gear. She had tears run down her face as she dropped them back in the box and hugged her Mom tightly. Veronica kissed her cheek as she pulled back and Happy jumped into her Dad's arms and hugged him. Finally she grabbed up Emmett and hugged him too.
"They've all got special padding in them as well. While we'll be praying you never need it, it can't hurt to take a bit of precaution." Ralph told her.
"Speaking of surprises. Paige, we've been extended a week stay at the Ritz Carlton in New York city." Walter told her as Ralph winked.
"What?! When did you find this out?" Paige said as she grabbed Walter and hugged him.
"This morning actually. A producer for The View called and said that Sherri Shepherd wants us to do an in depth interview with her over the whole plane escape." Walter told her.
"Oh, I like her. When?" Paige asked.
"We can drive up next Sunday evening, after we bring Happy and her bike back. The interview is on Tuesday and we'll be able to sight see the rest of the week as well." Walter told her.
"That's awesome!" Paige said as she kissed him.
"Well in another bit of good news, I got an email this morning that said my musical script made it into the top five." Paige told them.
"What? That's wonderful." Ralph said as grabbed Emmett up and held him.
"Congrats Paige!" Happy and Veronica both said.
"Tell them the bad part." Walter told her.
"Bad part?" Happy frowned.
Paige rolled her eyes.
"It isn't a bad thing. I got another email from that director from Grease. He said he was very interested in the script regardless of where it might place in the contest. He wants to do it as his final production before he graduates next year." Paige told them.
"How's he know about it? He's not a judge is he?" Ralph asked.
"No. I guess he knows one of the judges and they gave him a breakdown of the scripts they personally liked." Paige shrugged.
"Well I guess that is okay." Ralph said even as he looked uncertain.
"Well I had hoped a woman would want to do it. If it is in the top three I won't get a say in who can direct it. Whichever director students with the most seniority get to choose. The other students, if they can get the funds to produce the set and costumes, can request any of the scripts submitted, but then it is up to the author if they can have it." Paige told them.
For almost an hour they all stood there talking and waiting for Brad to return. Finally Happy grinned as she heard her bike turn onto their street.
"Here he comes." Happy told them.
They all looked and saw him coming down the street. He rode up into the driveway and stopped just outside the garage.
"Happy, you did an outstanding job on the bike." Brad grinned as he flipped his visor up.
"Thanks." Happy smiled.
He nodded and slowly drove the bike into the bay and turned it around.
"That was one smooth ride." Brad told them after he got the bike turned off and put the kickstand down.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
Railman - hehe Yeah, just a little miffed. Happy said it seemed perfectly natural until after she'd completed the wipe and then, she just knew...Well, Walter definitely wants Paige to be happy. lol I almost felt sorry for Claire. lol
LouBe - "Minor health hazard"! lol Love it. Glad you loved the rocking chair. Yeah, Toby's Dad is an enigma, not sure what can be done for him. Maybe Toby's Mom might get on a medicine regiment that can help her more? I thought her car analogy was pretty dope myself! lol She thought about going after him for the plastic, but thought better of it, she'd pushed him a bit far already. lol The least he could do was recycle. lol I saw this story about a Japanese man that has invented a small machine where you can put your plastic and it supposedly converts it back into some form of petroleum. Can't remember now if it is in a form that can be further used or has to be processed again. Paige is definitely a fierce lady in this story! lol I really hoped someone would comment on the fact she was willing to get into a fight but drew the line at ruining her nails to help Happy work on her bike! LOL Paige said she thinks he's pretty sweet too! lol Oh I can only imagine all the use it will get. lol Well, the interview is next chapter...so.
Pearliegirl - I will do my best. So glad you felt like rereading Secrets! Still near and dear to my heart! I'm currently on another read through of "Lady Knight".
To the Adventure! -Tim