Chapter 21

“This is yours?”

“I’m going to Charles Sturt in the Fall and I needed transportation. To be honest, Abby paid and bought the new tyres. I put it together ... the engine ... drove it home.”

George said, “First years have to live on campus.”

“I’ll be year Three after I test out of One and Two.”

“You sound smugly confident.”

“Just the facts.”

She turned to me, “Gonna gussy the ‘34?”

“Yes,” I said, “and you, sweet sister, get to help me sand this down to primer.”

“What?!?” she said, “Me? Surely you’re joking.”

“Nope ... you’re paying for tyres.”

“OH!” “Okay.”

“Wanna check out the garage? Daddy wouldn’t let me play in there.”

In the end, they discovered Daddy had wrenches, a portable 155 cfm air compressor, all sorts of air powered sanders, grinders, and rachet wrenches. There was lots of hose and a Kaeser M58 Utility Mount 210 cfm Air Compressor in an explosion resistant box. They could easily run two sanders.

The research, sanding and primer was pretty damn boring. Come to find out the worst of the dents, wrinkles ahd scrapes was in the fenders and running-boards.

When they hauled it to George they had a terrible time finding a trailer. UHaul wouldn’t rent to anyone under 25. Bunnings said only if our guy loaded it ... and that wouldn’t happen until Saturday.

Alice found an ex-UHaul aluminum car trailer for sale. The board at Aldi had the note. She found the note by accident. Some old lady... 35 is old when the younger is 18 ... had stripped a big bunch of older notices so she could post her note. The UHaul note was several layers down and Alice saw it flutter by.

Snatched out of mid fall, she called.

“Still have the trailer?”

“Yes,” said the voice on the phone.

“May we come look?”

“Only if you get it out on my yard.”

“What?”

“It’s in the way ... bring something to haul it with. 2” hitch. Bring an airbottle or a compressor.”

“Flat tires?”

“Maybe ... I haven’t looked at the damn thing since the no good ass bought it.” She gave directions. Alice wrote them down.

At home, she said, “Get your tools together. I found us a trailer.”

“Tools?”

“Four-way tyre tool, that portable air compressor, the Snap-on wrenches and a socket set. An air ratchet ... I have a two inch ball on the Ute. The jack lives in the ute.”

“How much dosh?”

“Free.”

“Free ... but if we look we take it.”

Napoleon Reef ... and past to Winburndale Creek road to the wye before the two tin shacks. Left at the wye. Careful at the washout.

The lady was waiting.

“Heard you coming,” she said, “Nice Ute.”

The trailer was an old UHaul ... before the massive mechanical brake setup. The only tool they used was the jack. The trailer was on blocks. No flats. The bearings seemed good. They got a title and a bill of sale for one used Uhaul car hauler trailer, price... 1 dollar. She signed it and included her phone number. “The BMV will want to call,” she said.

Before they left the yard the woman was out with her ancient of days garden tiller tilling the trailer spot.

The trip out was much worse than the trip in. Horrible road.

“Where did you get that trailer?” asked George.

“Napoleon Reef.”