Day Three - Wednesday
I was up at five again, showered and brushed. While I was looking at myself in the mirror, I thought I might want to trim the beard a little as I was scary looking. Oh well I thought as I dressed in jeans and one of my new T-shirts.
By six I had boiled some water for instant oatmeal and made some coffee that I drank out on the patio.
Martin came over so I offered him coffee but he said he had too much already. I asked for directions to a Sears and where a barbershop might be. He told me how to get to a Sears store but asked what I wanted a barber for. When I said to trim my beard back a little, he said that Glenda would enjoy doing it for me and left to get her.
Glenda came over with a big towel, a brush, comb and scissors. "How short do you want it Steve?"
"Glenda, just take a lot of the ragged bottom off and get rid of the puffy sides. Clean me up but don't cut it too short yet. Let me cut it off a little at a time."
"Steve, do want me to trim up your hair?"
"Naw, I'll just leave it long for a while. I'm kind a curious how long it will get."
"I like your long hair, but your beard was too much," Glenda said while working the scissors on my beard.
When she was done she had me look at her and she snipped a little here and a little there then finally said, "you look like a normal person now. Not nearly as scary as you did yesterday. You might even meet more of your neighbors."
"Thanks Glenda, what can I do for you to pay for barbering me up?"
"Next time I have to lift something real heavy I'll call you over Steve. How's that?"
I took off for the Sears store and arrived just when they were opening the doors. I bought a lock then found a set of tools that had everything I needed including a small chest to hold them.
Back at the trailer, I changed the battery and the chain on the bike then wheeled it out of the shed. I locked up the shed and the trailer then put on my new helmet, a skinny little pea pod, adjusting straps so the hat would stay on. I turned on the gas and hit the button. The motor started easily then settled down to the "put, put, putta, put, putta, putta put" rhythm of the V-twin.
Just as I was putting the bike into gear Martin came out of his trailer walking fast. "Here Steve, you need these," as he handed me a pair of sunglasses. "You are required to have eye protection here too. You can borrow those till you get some."
"Thanks Martin, I'm just taking the bike to Tampa V-twin to get two new tires and get the wheels tuned. I'll bet they have sun glasses there."
"Do you want me to come down and bring you home or are you gonna wait?"
"I didn't think about that Martin. Would you mind? That would be nice."
"I'll meet you down there in a few minutes. Let me go tell Glenda."
I road down to the bike shop and went in to tell Jan and Dell I was there. Jan was helping another customer so I looked around and found some sunglasses that fit. When Jan was done, I paid for the helmet and sunglasses and then left the bike with her. She said to come back late this afternoon and it would be done.
When I walked out, Martin had just pulled in. I got in his old Pontiac and we went home.
I took a discovery walk around the trailer park. It was much larger than I had thought as there were many side roads that circled and crossed through the back. Just down from my trailer was one of the wash houses that had coin washers and dryers. There were two more buildings like this in the park. Right in the center was a very nice pool, a small kids wading pool and a concession stand and a large building with a "Recreation" sign. The pool gate had a sign saying it was open from four to eight weekdays and ten to eight on weekends. The pool looked good, as did some ladies laying out getting a tan. Looking at them reminded me that it would be nice to have some female companionship one of these days. It had been years since I had dated.
When I got back to the trailer, Abe and Alice were next door talking to Martin and Glenda. Alice came over and said they were visiting in order to use the pool and did I want to come with them. I told Alice that I didn't have a swimsuit but next time I would. I put something else on my Wal-Mart wish list.
I was sitting in a lawn chair drinking a beer when Abe came over. "Martin said you took the bike down to Tampa V-twin."
"They are mounting the new tires and tuning the wheels," I said pointing at an empty lawn chair, "wanna beer?"
"Sure, if ya got one."
I jumped up and brought him a beer.
"One of yours anyway," I said handing it to him. "Next time I'll give you one I bought."
Abe chuckled, "you put in the battery and put on the new chain?"
"Yep."
"Where'd you get the tools?"
"Sears. Got a set they had on sale. Pretty good deal. Wanna see 'em?"
We got up carrying our beers and went into the shed to check out the new tool chest, now filled with tools.
"Looks like you have everything you need to fix up stuff like I used to do," Abe was saying wistfully.
"I don't know that much about small motors. As a matter of fact, I don't know a lot about any motors. I'm learnin' as I go," I told Abe as we shut the shed up and sat back down on the patio.
"Tell you what Steve," Abe said, "you have a question? Call me. I'll teach you whatever I can. It'll be fun."
"I'm gonna take you up on that Abe. You're gonna get tired of all my questions before it's over."
"Damn, I hope so," Abe whispered, "I really miss fixin' stuff."
Alice came over and sat in a new lawn chain. "Ain't you goin' to offer a lady a beer?"
"Ladies don't ask for beers," Abe laughed.
"This one does and I like your new look Steve," Alice laughed back.
I brought out five beers as I saw Martin and Glenda on their way over to join our fun. I brought a kitchen chair too so everyone would have a chair.
"So who have you met out here so far Steve?" Alice was asking.
"Just you guys and Martin and Glenda."
"These other snobs haven't come over to see you yet?" Alice was asking.
"Give them time, I've just been here a day," I said in defense of those that I didn't know yet.
Martin chipped in saying, "you already met the best anyway. You may not need to know any of the others."
"I wouldn't say that," cautioned Alice. "There are some very nice single ladies that lounge around at the pool. Steve may need some companionship one of these nights."
This time I blushed.
Alice picked up on it. "Glenda, if you here loud moaning from over here, you better tell me about it so I don't have to worry about Steve not getting any."
"Gezz, Alice, give me break," I begged blushing wildly.
"You know Steve, I know a couple of young ladies that live out here that are just itching to get their hands on a young stud like you."
"Alice," Abe said, "be nice. The person itching around here is you and I'm just not stud enough to keep up with you anymore."
"Oh Abe," Alice crooned "you are the man, my man. You always take care of my itches."
"You guys are bad," I complained. "I'm an innocent young guy hearing all this wild stuff from grown-ups like you guys."
Glenda offered in a happy voice, "I don't think you're all that innocent. As a matter of fact I'm gonna make up a bet as to when we're gonna hear some female shrieking her pleasure from over here."
"Careful there Glenda," Martin said, "if you don't hear something soon enough are you gonna be the screamer?"
"Shush Martin," Glenda whispered, "nobody needs to know my daydreams."
Everyone laughed then Martin said, "Isn't it about time you went for your motor?"
"Probably is Martin," I answered, "mind taking me down to get it?"
"Let's go," Martin said heading toward his car.
Alice promptly said, "we'll wait right here for you Steve, hope you have enough beer."
Martin and I rolled into Tampa V-twin at four thirty. I went in and Jan said the bike was ready. She asked if I was going to look for a new seat. I told her it was either that or I was going to have the old one recovered. She had me look at a seat she had at the counter.
"This one will fit your bike. A guy ordered it and didn't like it but he has already paid for most of it. What do you think? You want it? There's only fifty dollars left to pay on it."
"I'll take it Jan. Let me pay for it along with some T-shirts. Give me two small for a couple of ladies and a couple of mediums for two small guys."
Jan gathered everything up including another free shirt for me then rang everything up. I paid her in cash then walked outside to my bike. I put the new seat and the bag of T-shirts in Martin's car then put on my helmet to go back to the trailer park.
I handed Martin thirty bucks and told him to drop by the grocery store on the way home and pick up a case of cold beer. He smiled at saying, "We do go through some beer out there."
I rolled up to my trailer giving the motor a couple of loud revs so everyone could listen to the sweet sound of a Harley in full voice. Alice came running over to the bike and jumped on the back saying, "give me a ride around the park real quick, please."
We rode around the streets of the park for fifteen minutes with Alice clinging onto me. I could feel her snuggled up to my back. It felt so nice.
When we got back to the trailer, Alice jumped off then landed on Abe's lap. "You're gonna get so lucky tonight you stud."
"Holy smokes. If Alice acts like that when you give her a ride, you gotta give Glenda a ride right now," Martin said as he was handing out cans of beer from the new case.
Abe said while fondling the panting Alice, "she's always been like that around bikes. Give her a fifteen minute ride and you get an hours ride on her afterward."
Alice punched Abe, blushing while she did it.
"You know Steve," Alice said with all innocence, "I'm glad you bought more beer. You only had a couple left and we could probably stay for dinner now that you have more."
I handed out the Harley T-shirts I had bought exciting the two couples with the thought of wearing the rebel looking shirts.
"I promise to keep at least a case in the fridge at all times from now on," I said in defense.
The party broke up with Abe and Alice taking their passion home while Martin and Glenda walked back to their trailer.
I cooked another piece of meat but this time I had some instant potatoes along with some canned green beans. At least there was another beer left for my supper.