Chapter 20

That was one beautiful car ... er ... pickup ... er ... Utility. Suddenly dad’s Cobra paled beside it. Well ... the 1934 ute was still in the garage.

“Repco Auto, how may I direct your call?”

“I don’t know ... how about I tell you what I want and you direct me.”

“I can do that.”

“I have a 1934 Ford Ute in running condition. I want to make it pretty. Does your shop do that?”

CLICK ... BUZZ BUZZ

“Body Shop. George speaking.

“George, I have a 1934 Ford Ute in running condition. It’s not pretty.”

“David Austin’s ute?”

“Yes.”

“Same address?”

“I haven’t moved ... I assume you know where.”

“Move it out in the sunlight. I’m on my way.”

Ooo ... I hope it starts. I looked out the door. Alice is gone.

Good.

The ‘34 started ... rolled off. Puff puff pant eugh. Thank the Gods for a paved sloped driveway. I parked it on the street. Left it running.

Pretty soon, a pretty 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria, white over maroon pulled in, circled the cul-de-sac and parked behind the Ute. An elderly man got out, wiped an invisible smut with a soft cloth and walked up.

“Oooo ... dats purdy,” I said.

“Thanks,” said George.

I looked at Dave’s ‘34 ... at the ‘55 ... at the ‘34. I pointed at Daddy’s ‘34... “I want that to look like that,” I pointed at the ‘55.

George said, “Let’s look at what we have to work with.”

He gave the ‘34 the eagle eye.

“Miss Austin,”

“Abby, please.”

“Abby, your dad’s ute is in remarkable condition. The top paint is totally gone. The bones are excellent. It’s not rusty. I wonder where he got it?”

“He never said. It’s always been here.”

“Tell you what ... sand it down to no surface rust and bring it to the shop. We’ll prime it two different colour coats ... you sand it again ... every place the undercoat doesn’t show is a low spot. We’ll fix the spots.”

“You want me to do it?”

“Yes ... it’ll save you a few thousand. As it is ... it’s going to cost four thousand just to prime and paint it. We do the sanding and it’s twice that.”

Alice drove up in the ‘39. George gawked.

Alice opened the door, got out and headed in the house.

George eagle eyed it...”25 miles?”

“It was seven miles when she bought it.”

Alice came out with three cokes, passed them out, took a big swig and said, “Like my ute?”