In the country around Witter Springs vehicles are worked pretty hard. I needed a lube and oil change for my truck. I usually do that myself. It was cold and there was no room in my garage; it was full of odds and ends I was working on. I took my truck to Duane.
Duane is a Seventh-day Adventist. He owns Duane”s Garage. Unlike some religious people I know, Duane doesn”t try to convert me. When I needed an oil change and a lube I knew I could depend on Duane to put in the right weight and amount of oil and find most of the grease fittings.
I liked to go to Duane”s Place for another reason. He lets me drive my truck up on his hoist. With the barest wigwag signals and a nervous grin he stands at the head of the rack to guide my wheels in the narrow slots.
Driving on the hoist gives me a feeling of power.
Duane has a lot of turnover in his help. Good automobile mechanics in Lake County don”t stay long working for someone else. Each time I brought in my truck I had to remind his newest helper to be sure to get the rear grease fitting on the drive shaft. That pesky rear grease fitting made me gun shy of having anyone else other than me lube the truck. For good reason.
Thirty years ago while I was driving through the middle of downtown Los Angeles at high noon my drive shaft fell out. It landed on the pavement and rolled into the gutter by the curb. I was lucky. To this day I can”t explain the coincidence but at that moment my son, who lives in Los Angeles, happened to be passing by. He saved me. Together, we drove to the wrecking yard and picked up another drive shaft. My car was towed to a station next door and the new drive shaft was installed. Back then I was a city man and new to such matters like greasing my own car. The drive shaft fell out because the back lube fitting had never been greased.
While I waited I always bought bear claw and a coffee from the store next door. Buddy, Duane”s dog, was waiting for me as usual. Buddy is gone now but I considered Buddy one of my friends. He was a medium sized dog, black and white, intelligent and friendly. We became acquainted on earlier visits and he was pleased to see me and my bear claw sugar roll. His memory is excellent. He knew I would share my sweet roll with him.
My problem with Buddy always came after Buddy finished off his share in one gulp. I had to eat what was left of the bear claw quickly so I could prove to Buddy that the bear claw was all gone. Otherwise I had to give him some of my share or watch him beg for more. There is nothing that takes away my peace of mind faster than to see Buddy plead for more of my bear claw.
At that moment Duane stuck his head into the waiting room and solved my problems. With his usual cheerful smile he told me my truck was ready to roll. As I drove off there was Buddy sitting at the door watching me go. I think he counts the days until I come back to give him more of my bear claw.
Gene Paleno is a writer and illustrator living in Witter Springs.
