Day Thirty-six - Monday
I woke to Sue petting my head and my face. She was laying there with tears streaming down her face while caressing my unshaven face.
When she sobbed, I turned and was holding her, trying to comfort her, "What's the matter hon, what's wrong?"
Sue choked and sobbed a few more times then, "You'll leave now that I have all this money. You won't want me."
"That's bullshit. I don't give a damn how much you have. You and I have so much going on right now, we don't have time to worry about how much money you have and what you're going to do with it. Do nothing with it. Do everything with it. Who cares? You and I have too much going on right now, today, to worry about it."
I raised up, kissing both teary eyes, "You have a business that is tripling by the quarter, if not the month. Today I'm, or rather we are, going to train two new people on how we work. That is the important stuff. We are making our lives and lives of those around us better. We don't need your money to do that, we're doing it on our own."
"Oh you," Sue hugged me. "You are so good, so special. That's why I love you so much."
"And I love you."
I took a deep breath, "Now, let's get a shower, start the coffee for us and our friends, and begin a new special day."
Sue gave me a most passionate kiss.
We rolled from the bed, then lovingly washed each other in the shower, then dried each other off and combed out each other's hair while the coffee was dripping.
I turned on the light at six thirty on this glorious morning. Sue and I were already dressed for work. Not the coveralls, but jeans and shirts, with our coveralls ready for later.
All of our folks were gathered by seven and drank coffee telling what was going on that day. We cleaned up and were ready for Al and Tom to arrive in one of their pickups at ten to eight.
Down at the shop, I opened up the three bays, going over the different equipment we had. I had Al call several of the local businesses that carried the equipment he needed and discuss what kind of prices we could get. Sue said she would take our pickup and take him to the various places. She said she would negotiate with the dealers as she felt strong today.
Tom and I went over the different welding equipment that I had available, then we looked at the truck so that I could show him the value of a well-planned vehicle. He was astounded that such a truck could exist.
Abe was working on a generator when we were back at the shop, so I introduced him and explained to Abe what I was going to be doing. He said he had the perfect test for him.
Abe showed Tom one of the arms that attached the generator to the tow hitch that was cracked. He asked him to fix it, knowing exactly how something like that should be done.
Tom asked to use the torch, first cutting away the cracked metal, giving him about a two inch piece to weld back together. He measured the length of the opposite un-cracked arm, then the separated arm, and made a note. He then used the torch to cut a piece of metal from a blank we had that was the same thickness as the arm.
He should have cleaned up the areas that he was working on, and with, before welding, but he used the arc wire feed and after clamping it together welded it, doing a pretty good job. Crude but thorough.
Abe asked him how he was going to sell this piece of equipment with such as obvious patch job on the tow arm. Tom was confused as he had never been taught how to do a clean job or how to clean it up.
I told Tom he did a good job welding but he didn't prepare his site, and the piece he was using, well before he welded.
I took the torch and cut out where the new piece he had welded in. Then with a file and grinder I cleaned the area where I had cut and the melted metal had bubbled.
I measured the arms and figured out what I needed, then cut it from the blank the same as Tom did. I put the cut piece into a vise and cleaned it thoroughly, squaring off the edges so it would fit the open space on the arm perfectly. I clamped it to the arm then welded it in place without raising hardly any bead.
I took the grinder and smoothed out the beads then as a last smoothing operation, I used sandpaper so I could feel that the bead was unseen. I blew if off with the air hose then with a can of primer I sprayed the new welds. When it was all done, I once again measured everything, making sure everything was exact. When I was done, Abe said perfect.
Tom had been fascinated as I had completed each step. He asked, "that takes a lot of extra time to do, do you always take that much time, is it okay to take the time to do it like that?"
"It never takes too long to do it perfect. I'll teach you how to be faster, but it is important that our work is perfect. That generator will now bring top dollar because it will look like top equipment, not some patched item that the customer might assume may or may not work."
Leaving Abe, we went into the welding area. I took a couple pieces of tubing and said, clean these up and weld them together at a right angle. Do your best for it to be exactly ninety degrees. I gave him clamps and a square then found two more pieces and worked on them to show him how I wanted it to look when it was done.
Since I have done this type of work for years, it only took me ten minutes to clean it, weld it, then clean up the welds. Twenty minutes later, Tom said he thought he had done a good job. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't perfect as he had rushed his weld in one area. I showed him how you could tell there was a weak weld in the area, then I showed him my two bars.
"Steve, I don't know whether I'll ever be that good. I've never seen work like that. How do you do it?"
"The same way you do it, Tom, but with a steadier hand and I don't force the rod to do the work. You draw it along the two pipes, you don't stab at it. Let me show you."
I took two pieces of cut up blank and put them together on their flat straight ends. Using the arc welder Tom had been using, I drew a weld between the pieces that you almost couldn't see.
I put two more pieces together and had Tom to retry welding without a raised bead for me. This time he took his time and slowly drew the rod through the metal, closing up several small problems he had. When he was done, he took off the hood and stared at his finished product. I handed him the grinder and he smoothed it quickly. He reached for the sandpaper before I ever offered it to him and quickly finished the weld proudly displaying what he had one.
"That's the way Tom. Every time we do a job, we will do it as perfectly as possible. I'll let you practice till you get it right. Cut some of the pipe we've been playing with and make it into some perfect welds. It just takes determination and practice."
A truck pulled up to our doors and the driver asked us if we had a forklift. When I said no, he groaned, "I've been driving all night to get this stuff here this morning. I don't know whether I have the energy to unload this by hand."
He showed me the packing slip and it was the entire order that I had made.
I made a decision and went to the office. I told the guy that I needed to use the big double unit next to my welding unit. He just nodded and said I would have to rent it for a minimum of two months. When I looked at him funny, he grinned, "as fast you're growing, you will need your own building very soon. I'm just taking advantage of the situation because I have some money invested in all the electrical I've added. I suppose you want more electrical and air piped into the unit too?"
"That would be nice but you're probably right, I agreed with him. "I'm thinking of looking for a building. But, I need the space for right now and if you could, could you use your forklift to unload a truck for me. It's a pretty big load."
"Sure, come on, let's get your truck unloaded and we'll see what the unit needs. I don't mind fixing them up as I get more rent from them now. A lot of the other small business tenants have seen what you're doing and want the same. They are willing to pay the difference, so why not improve them."
The storage building owner took only a few minutes to unload the truck. I had him separate the sheet metal into the new space and the tubing into the welding area.
I asked Abe if he could build a rack to hold sets of tubing. My thought was to keep sets together like Gene did, so we would have the exact package ready when we needed it.
Tom was given the list for a single unit. I asked him to separate groups of tubing and plate blanks and to tie the tubing together with some heavy twine that Abe had saved from my auction junk.
When Tom had two units separated and loaded into Abe's pickup, I had Tom jump in the pickup with Abe and had them go to Gene's to give him the borrowed material back.
As soon as they left, I called the steel company to thank them for the special shipping. They said if my orders were that size or better, they would just load a truck and have it on the way for me as that size order required the best part of a load.
I was separating the materials when Sue came back with the pickup loaded with equipment. She had purchased everything on the list, plus a few other items that Al said would be good to have. She proudly displayed that most of the equipment was used and that she was able to barter successfully, although we were going to have to run over to the dealer with the big truck to do a welding repair for him.
Al couldn't quit talking about how Sue had worked the dealer for all the equipment they needed. The total cost was a third of what I had projected.
I told Sue about the new space and about the delivery, and that Abe and Tom were taking Gene his materials. I told her we were going to need to build a frame for Al so he could begin seeing if he could do the race car sheet metal, but I wanted to use this one as a training aid for Tom. She agreed with that.
I took Al into the welding shop to see how much he knew about welding. I showed him a finished trial with the two pieces of tubing, then cut a four inch and a two inch piece so he could try.
Al said he was familiar with the type of wire feed arc welders we were using, as it was the kind his dad had taught him on. He set up the clamps, showing me that he knew how to do it, then cleaned the ends of the pipe before he began. He also scuffed up the area where he was going to make the two pipes meet.
When he turned on the arc welder I watched him closely for safety habits. Before he began, he checked his ground clamps, he checked the hold of the clamps, then he hit a small spot to see how the arc was going take. He raised the hood and checked the spot then pulled the hood down and drew a weld completely around the pipes in a single pass, very professional. He stored the wand, turned off the welder, removed the ground clamp then inspected the weld. It was damn good.
He pointed at it as if to ask me to inspect his work. I did and it looked like a good weld all around.
I asked him if he had used grinders and files to clean up welds and he nodded. I gave him the tools and let him finish his work. Sue and I were both impressed with his performance.
When he was done, he took it off the bench and handed it to me. It was as good as any I did. I smiled at Al and said, "that is what I was talking about. That's perfection, that is the way I like a finished product to look.
"Steve, I've never cleaned up a weld like that. My dad taught me to try to not raise a real high bead on joints so it would look nice. Too bad he didn't think about finishing good work. I like the way it looks and can see how a customer would view the effort of making it look that way."
"Looks like I'm going to be able to use you for both sheet metal and welding. You don't mind do you?"
"Hell no," said Al. "This is going to be a fun job. I bet you find all kinds of work for me other than making panels for racecars."
I told Al that when Tom got back the two of them go to lunch. Sue and I were going to run over to the equipment dealer and do the work for him then be right back.
The equipment dealer had a steel deck over his parts bins holding even more parts in bins and on the decking. A forklift had rammed into the stair and had broken it and two steps. He needed someone to weld it back together. There was another weld where something like this had happened before.
We backed the truck into the shop so our equipment would be within reach. I brought out two hydraulic jacks and a pulley. While I heated up the metal with the torch, I had Sue activate the jacks and they pulled a little at a time. It took almost a half hour and the help of a four pound sledge hammer to get the stairway back to straight and the steps bent into position.
I had Sue clear the area, then clamped the ground onto the stair rail and began. I tacked the stairs and the broken rail, then stopped to measure and check the level of the stairs. It looked good so I made the permanent welds. When I put the arc wand back into its holder, Sue had two drills with grinder bits in them so we could clean up the work. We had it looking like new in fifteen minutes. I sanded the welds off then sprayed some primer paint on the spots.
The owner was very pleased, saying we had made it look like new. We pulled the truck out. Sue told me to look over at the back of his lot. The guy had six big Onan generators. The looked a little rusted but were lined up as if someone had cared for them at one time or another.
I asked the guy what he was doing with the generators and his response was, trying to find someone to haul them off. I told him I thought I knew of someone that would do it for him if he could use his forklift to get them on a truck.
His comment was "why not just hook them up and tow them off The tires and wheels all are good enough to tow them ten or fifteen miles so if you know someone, who wants them, tell them to come get them. They were used a few years ago during a hurricane and haven't been used since. They were stored here by a company that's gone out of business so the only thing I can do is to sell them to a sucker, or find someone willing to take them away."
Sue and I looked at each other and I assured the man they would be gone by tomorrow.
On the way back to the shop we drove by the place where the auction had been and wrote down the number of the real estate company. Sue said she wanted to go see her uncle to clarify a few things and then would come back, so I drove her to the house and dropped her off.
I proposed something to her. We should get the building, but if we had any trouble financing it, perhaps we could use the estate as lenders. She thought a second saying, "would you rather do it that way, or just buy it."
"I think we should handle it like a business, to finance it on a commercial ten year loan and treat it like the business it was, not a hobby," I said, thinking we needed to keep Sue's money safely away from my ventures.
She said, "We'll do it the way you think best. Just remember, this money that's available to me is available to you too. I'm going to do some fancy stuff with my catalog business and maybe even open a retail store. I would like to try it."
"Sounds good, let's have some fun being successful."
We kissed and I took off for the shop. There I told Abe about the generators. He about had a fit that they were sitting there to be had. He wanted to rush right over and haul them away. I told him that I might have another place to haul them to so to wait a few minutes.
I called the realtor from the sign at the building. He said he had not put up the sign as there was a problem with some back taxes on the building. I told him I was very interested in the building and wanted to try to gain possession of it immediately. The lawyer I had talked to before was primarily a business or corporate type lawyer so I figured he would be good for commercial real estate. I called him and explained the entire thing to him. When I told him I wanted immediate possession so I could use the property to store materials and to start setting up shop there, he asked if I would be willing to lease it from the bankruptcy court till I could buy it. When I said, you bet, he said he would have possession for me that afternoon. He asked me to get him some money for a retainer and for the court. I asked him for his account number and asked if ten thousand would be enough. He said that would be great.
I called the bank and gave them all the details. I gave them my account password and the electronic transfer was complete.
While I waited to call the lawyer back, I looked in on Tom and Al. They had finished separating all of the sets and were now measuring and marking one of the sets so we could begin cutting and bending. I gave them the okay sign with the thumb and forefinger and went to call the lawyer back.
I told him the money was in his account and to make me a deal. He said the judge on the case agreed to lease it until he could make a judgment on the value of the building with the back taxes against it. I asked him if we should hire an appraiser and have a formal appraisal performed, then make an offer from that. The lawyer thought that might work and knew a commercial appraiser that could get the job done quickly. He said the realtor would come by my shop with the keys for the building. I would need to turn on the utilities to occupy the building, but I could store material in it and in the yard. He said the realtor should be on his way and shouldn't be long as he was near.
Sure enough as I hung up the phone, the realtor pulled in. He had me sign a receipt for the keys, then gave me some advice. "When you get the appraisal for the building, bankruptcy courts will take seventy-five percent and sometimes even less of the appraised value of the property to close the case. Get the exact taxes owed then offer them the amount you're willing to pay less the taxes. You'll have to pay the taxes and penalties to possess the place but you might make a really good deal if you handle it that way."
I thanked the man and handed the keys to Abe telling him the address of the building. I told him to go get his generators and park them on the side of the building so they could be easily be brought inside to work on them. Abe took both guys with him in case he needed muscle.
I finished measuring, then cut and bent the entire set, before they returned. Abe was ecstatic with the building. He said there was a good-sized area that was perfect for his small engine repair and his reconditioning shop. He also said that the big shop area was separated into two areas and that I could easily have two separate operations going at the same time.
When I told Abe that was where all the equipment came from he laughed, as now it was all going back. I told him about the parts and tool room, but said I had not gone into any of the office areas. There was supposed to be a showroom up front, but I had not seen that either.
I mentioned the big advantage would be that the place was wired for equipment everywhere, as well as air pipes through out the place. When Abe didn't mention it, I asked him if he noticed the lift in the shop area he was claiming. You probably didn't see it because it was dark but there is a built in lift in that shop for trucks, and in your case, generators. He was really excited now.
I called Tampa electric and then the water company. I had to make a pretty big deposit to Teco, but the water company was easy. Now the logistics of moving.
Abe was just about done with one of his generators, so I asked him if he could use one of the guys to get it done faster. His response was, give me both of them and we'll be done by tomorrow afternoon.
The two guys were eager to learn from Abe. It was going to be nice to have them working with him, as they would learn a bunch from him.
I decided I needed some cash flow and the easiest way to get it would be to make up as many frames as I could. The Lakeland guy was good for two more instantly, perhaps more. Gene was going to need another within a week, so a couple of days early wouldn't hurt.
I busted ass setting up and tacking the three sections, then went back to double check everything. I fired up the arc welder and made short work of the three sections, including putting them together. Next was the grinding, filing, and finishing off with the sandpaper. Not bad, a completed frame by myself in a lot less than a day.
It was getting late. Everyone else had gone home and it was already six thirty, so I cleaned up and left. When I got there Sue was outside with everyone telling them how well Tom and Al had done today.
Abe and Alice were there two enjoying a beer, sitting in one of the gliders with Abe talking about the new building.
Tom and Al were not there. They really were not part of the patio group yet. I wondered if the others would welcome them.
I took a quick shower and came out in time for Hanna to bring over a huge pot of spaghetti and meatballs. She had rolls and squash to go with it. The other girls had made salads for everyone, so we all dug in.
We had cleaned up and were considering a ride when Tom and Betty, as well as Al and Joan, came over. They excitedly told those on the patio about their first day and how diverse it had been. They couldn't believe how many things we were doing at once.
I told the guys that tomorrow I needed to make two frames and potentially cut and form a set of sheet metal. They looked at me as if I had three eyes and four arms. I assured them we would get it done. They were to learn from Abe, and finish up his project so we would not be moving a finished generator. I asked Abe if he thought he could deliver it Friday afternoon. He nodded and said that with all the help, He and I could make it Friday morning if it were necessary. I told him to be prepared for Friday afternoon.
I had a thought and went in the house to use the phone. I found the number for the kid who bought the big truck from me the day of the auction. When he answered he said that he had screwed up the transmission on the truck and it was now parked useless. He didn't have the money to fix it.
"Tell you what," I began "we can do this a couple of different ways. Pick one. I'll pick up the tab for the truck repairs and you repay me by using the truck and help me move from my shop back over to the building where my stuff came from. Another way would be for me to buy the truck from you, fix it, then hire you to help move me. Either way you come out. Either way I come out, because I am going to need a big truck."
He sounded happier, "The truck's too big for me. I bought a cheap pickup to do the stuff I need to do. If you bought the truck from me for say half what we figure I paid for it, I will be happy. If you hire me to help you move, that will make me even happier. I could use the cash all around."
I told him I would have a tow truck out to pick the truck up in the morning and he could come by the shop with the title any time for his money.
Abe said he knew a good mechanic that could probably take care of the truck quickly. I got the name and address then asked Abe about a towing service.
We were going to need a forklift. Abe said we should find a used one that someone was getting rid of, and let him refurbish it. I thought that would be a good idea, but we would need one for the move, so I said I would rent one for a week or so.
Since the day had been pretty crazy, we all thought we should just crash this evening and try for a ride tomorrow evening. Sue and I went for our fast power walk, giving us time to discuss what all had gone on with her Uncle.
Sue found out that she was definitely heir to a bunch of money, property, and investments. Ben had her look over and sign dozens of documents, completing the transfer of property into her account. She had agreed to let Ben continue to be the administrator of the estate and manage her funds. She would still have final approval, but Ben could continue making investments for her mother, himself, and Sue.
She had discussed the possibility of the estate loaning the money for the building. Ben wanted her to buy it outright, but she said that if I wanted the business to pay for it, she should let me do it the way I thought. He agreed to the terms, in the event that regular commercial financing was not available.
She told me the house had been specifically left to her, not as part of the total estate. She said that the house was a bone of contention between her mother and her uncle. He had used money from Sue's half of the estate to maintain and refurbish the house, but had been a little strange with her mom about moving into it. Sue said there was something going on, more than either one was willing to talk about.
When I asked her what she was going to do about the house, she said she was going to leave it as it is for the present as we had a nice home and were not planning on moving right away.
We stopped at the pool to swim for a half hour. The exercise felt good. I told Sue we should probably make a schedule so we could go to the gym on a regular basis.
"So when are you going to make a twenty-six hour day so we have the time?" Sue laughed.
Back at the house we relaxed with a beer and soda before calling it a day. We discussed her bringing in Betty, and or Joan, on Wednesday to start them on the office stuff. I told her she may want to bring both of them in and teach them at the same time. One of them may be needed for the welding company pretty soon and what they learned from Sue would apply to the other as well.
Inside we brushed our teeth then snuggled up to sleep. The snuggling created both of our interests, so it was over an hour before we were sleeping.