Page 110 of September

“Do you know anything about cars?” Gwen asked her.

“Some. Why?”

“Because I might be buying a van, and I don’t want to make a mistake.”

“Oh, okay. Where are you?”

Gwen gave her the cross streets.

“I can be there in about twenty minutes. Is that okay?”

“Yes. Thank you,” she replied.

Gwen and the woman then walked around the van, and the woman explained the basics to her, probably realizing that she knew nothing about cars. When Myra appeared, they got into the van, with Gwen behind the wheel and Myra in the passenger seat. Gwen drove the van around the block, and Myra suggested that she take it on the highway, too. Thirty minutes later, they returned to the woman who had been trusting enough to let them drive it without her. She gave Myra more information, and Myra seemed to understand it. When the woman left them alone to discuss, Gwen turned to Myra and gave her an expression that begged for her help.

“It’s good, from what I can tell, but I’d still recommend having a mechanic check it out before you sign anything or hand over money. The price seems good to me.”

“Really?” she asked.

“Yeah, but I’m not an expert in vans.”

“You know more than I do,” she said.

Myra laughed and replied, “Maybe, but I’d take it to a mechanic that you choose and have them do a once-over. I know someone who can do it for you, if you want. I wouldn’t want you to find out later that it’s a lemon.”

“Makes sense,” she agreed, looking at the woman who was checking out something on her phone. “Would I be able to get it checked out by a mechanic?” she asked.

“Sure,” the woman replied. “We’re looking to offload her quick, so I’ll even drive her wherever you want to have her looked at.”

With Myra’s help, Gwen was able to have a mechanic, Myra’s second cousin, check out the van only an hour later, and after another hour of his time, he nodded and cleaned his hands on a rag much like the man who owned the van had done earlier.The van needed an oil change, according to the inspection, but everything else looked good, so Gwen turned to the woman.

“I want her,” she said.

“Great,” the woman replied.

They drove back to the owner’s house, where Myra left them to get back to work, and they worked out the final price and the paperwork. Unable to believe how it had all worked out, Gwen left as the proud new owner of a van she’d now have to find parking for at her apartment building.

“Gwen?”

“Hey, Bridge,” she said to Bridgette, who was walking toward her with Monica in tow.

“What are you doing out this way?”

“Buying a van,” she said and motioned to the vehicle to her left.

“You bought a van?” Bridgette asked.

“She’s all mine, yes,” she replied.

“Um… Why did you buy a van?”

“I’m going to run my own mobile grooming business. Know anyone with a dog who might need their nails clipped and a good bath?”

Monica laughed and said, “I can’t think of anyone, but I’ll let you know if I do. Congratulations, by the way.”

“Thanks. What are you two doing out here?”

“Restocking cards, and we have a new Halloween line we just dropped off to a few of the stores on this street.”