When I was in high school, I worked at a car wash for co-op credit.
I couldn't wait to get out of school and work for $.
I worked all during the week and 10 hour days on the weekend weather permitting.
The car wash was one of those fancy ones where someone would jump inside and vacuum and clean the windows. We would even "armor all" everything if you had the time and extra $.
It was a cool job if you were a teenager. I got to work outside with my friends. It sucked in winter when my feet were cold and wet all day, but I troopered through.
I remember this one day when I was assigned to towel duty and part of that job is being called to redo windows that didn't get cleaned well enough the first time through. So I walk out front and see this maroon Mercury Topaz pulled off to the right side of the drive.
There is an older guy, 40's I'd say, drinking bad coffee out of a styrofoam cup from the lobby. As I'm spraying and wiping he's just hanging outside enjoying the sun. This is one of those jobs that sometimes you get tips for. This is cool. A buck is a lot to someone that makes $4 and hour. I honestly don't remember if he tips me but I know that I'm thinking of that as I walk over to him to tell him he's all set. That's when he says, "Don't worry, you'll have enough money."
The look on my face must have made him continue.
"You're an Aquarius right?"
"yeah.....?" I muttered.
"Don't worry, I know you're worried about having enough money, but you'll be fine."
Then he continues to tell me about how his daughter is away at State, but my head is in the clouds at that point.
I've never forgotten my meeting with that guy. I can remember everything, his maroon mercury with the faded paint, his white socks and tennis shoes, the sunny day, everything, but his face.
I couldn't wait to get out of school and work for $.
I worked all during the week and 10 hour days on the weekend weather permitting.
The car wash was one of those fancy ones where someone would jump inside and vacuum and clean the windows. We would even "armor all" everything if you had the time and extra $.
It was a cool job if you were a teenager. I got to work outside with my friends. It sucked in winter when my feet were cold and wet all day, but I troopered through.
I remember this one day when I was assigned to towel duty and part of that job is being called to redo windows that didn't get cleaned well enough the first time through. So I walk out front and see this maroon Mercury Topaz pulled off to the right side of the drive.
There is an older guy, 40's I'd say, drinking bad coffee out of a styrofoam cup from the lobby. As I'm spraying and wiping he's just hanging outside enjoying the sun. This is one of those jobs that sometimes you get tips for. This is cool. A buck is a lot to someone that makes $4 and hour. I honestly don't remember if he tips me but I know that I'm thinking of that as I walk over to him to tell him he's all set. That's when he says, "Don't worry, you'll have enough money."
The look on my face must have made him continue.
"You're an Aquarius right?"
"yeah.....?" I muttered.
"Don't worry, I know you're worried about having enough money, but you'll be fine."
Then he continues to tell me about how his daughter is away at State, but my head is in the clouds at that point.
I've never forgotten my meeting with that guy. I can remember everything, his maroon mercury with the faded paint, his white socks and tennis shoes, the sunny day, everything, but his face.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
tinplatedhero:
Terrific storytelling. I love it.
maddog_hoek:
Where did you go to HS again? I forget.