Redwood Nine Ch. 03

"Holy shit, Jake. Six guys? What happened to the driver?"

"That's just it, Piney. Nothing. Cops came and investigated and let the guy off. Barely had a scratch on him. Said the fog was so thick he didn't know he crossed the line and didn't see us, until it was too late."

"Fuck, Jake. That's bullshit, man."

Jake was downhearted, his usual fervour faded away.

"I really liked being with them. They were my buddies from the war. We'd been through hell together, fucking bullets and bombs missing us, taking out the guy beside us. We make it through, only to be wiped out by a fucking wetback driving a fruit truck. No fucking licence, either. That was all he got charged with, nothing else. I lost my faith after that. Lost some belief in the country I fought for, too. Six heroes dead and not one got a hero's burial. Lefty was lucky to get a burial. I paid for a small headstone and a few words, it was all I could afford at the time."

The guys could see it was hard on Jake, having to relive the memory again. JT didn't want to dismiss Jake's feelings, but he wanted to get back to the building. He let it sit for a moment, letting Jake get himself composed again.

"So, what do you think, Jake? Want to rent us this place?"

Jake could tell that JT wanted to end the discussion about his club and friends and he welcomed the diversion.

"Sure, you guys can have it for four hundred. All the shit that's in there now, just put it on the dock here and I'll get a bin in to take it away. If there's anything you can use, you're welcome to it."

"That's fantastic, Jake, I don't know how to say thank you enough. This is great news. Yesterday ended up so shitty and today just wipes that out. We can get to it after work today and see what we can get done."

"Jake, if there's anything we can do for you, just name it, we owe you big for this."

Jake could see the conviction in Piney's expression and knew it to be honest and heartfelt. He found a smile in himself and let it come out, as he told them something.

"You're actually doing me a favour renting it. County has been at me to rent it or tear it down. I had until the end of this year to rent, or down she comes. Now I can be happy knowing who's renting it and it helps you guys out, so it all comes out to the good. Alright, if you boys are done, Let's get back to work. In fact, give me a hand with the overhaul and that can free up the bay. Damn thing has been on the hoist for more than a week now."

"Let's do it then, Jake."

The three walked back and JT smiled, when Jake patted his back, smiling at him. They went about putting three sets of hands to work and in an hour and a half, they lowered the Studebaker and Piney climbed in and readied to start it. JT crossed his fingers and Jake gave him a nod to go ahead. Piney turned the key and there was absolutely nothing, not even a click. Jake looked under the hood and lifted a battery cable that wasn't attached.

"This might be the problem, Piney. That was your job."

Piney looked guilty, knowing he had overlooked that major detail. Jake wiggled the terminal on and tightened the clamp.

"Give her a shot now."

Piney turned the key and it almost started. He pumped the gas and hit the key again, this time the 289 V8 starting and running smoothly. Piney revved it a few times and the choke came off and idled properly.

"Good job, guys. Thanks. Piney, take it up and down the street and see how it runs."

Piney waved and put it in reverse and backed away and turned to go out. JT noticed the thin line of fluid trailing and yelled for him to stop. He slid under and checked for the leak. He called out to Jake for a wrench and tightened the nut to the transmission plug. He slid out and pointed at Jake.

"That was your job, Jake."

Jake shrugged and accepted his wrong.

"Too many cooks in the kitchen. Should have went around and checked myself, sorry guys."

JT stood up and smiled at him.

"Hey, no sweat, Jake. It's was minor, it's fixed."

Piney started it up again and drove off out the gate, turning left towards the motel. He went past it, looking at the office to see if anything was happening. The lot was clear of enforcement, but a new car was parked in front of the office. He pulled a U turn and headed back to the shop, pulling in and parking it beside the others on the finished side. Jake asked how it ran and Piney said it was smooth as silk.

"If I let you get back to those cars, you're going to be finished in no time. You guys are good, you work fast and stay with it."

"Army got us like that Jake. JT and me would rather be in the motor pool, so we picked up on things fast and did what we were supposed to."

"Here's what I'm thinking. Let's go push that bike over and get a look see at where to start. Tire is flat, but it should still hold air, so let's pump it up and roll it into the bay. Put some gas in it and see how it runs. Might have a runner by the end of the day, maybe not."

JT wasn't wasting any time and dragged the air hose over towards the bike and ended up ten feet short. Piney and Jake came over and between the three of them, pushed the old bike away from the fence and closer to the end of the hose. JT put air in and watched the tire filling up, smiling that it was still good. They pushed it over to the garage and into the bay and set the kickstand. JT grabbed a rag and started giving a quick wipe down to remove the big debris that had collected on it. He opened the tank and got a jerrycan of gas and poured a gallon into it.

He put the lid on and looked at Jake, wondering what to expect, when he kicked on the starter. He primed the starter and was happy it moved freely. He felt for the right timing and kicked down hard, the engine doing nothing, as a result. JT tried again and got a burp of a sputter. After two more tries, the engine coughed and caught, sputtering to life, albeit roughly. JT gave the throttle some gas and the engine began smoothing out. Jake bent down and used a screwdriver to adjust a couple of screws on the carburetor, making the engine run smoother still. JT killed the engine, smiling broadly at Jake and Piney, getting off and looking at it.

"Runs great, Jake. I'll spend some time going over it with the oil can and make sure everything is moving freely and then check the brakes and see how good they are. If the tire holds out, I could actually ride this soon, maybe tomorrow. We got to get out to see your dad, Piney, see what he's willing to do with his bike."

Piney shrugged his shoulders, already showing defeat at getting it. JT and Jake could see it clearly on him and Jake put his hand on his shoulder.

"Tell you what? You and me go out and see your dad and I'll make out like I want to buy it and you're just letting me know about it. If he's willing to sell, I'll get it for the best price."

Piney's attitude changed in seconds, to one of hope. JT knew the last person Piney wanted to talk to, was his dad. They parted on bad terms, his dad telling Piney he was worthless and good for nothing. When he said he was his greatest disappointment, that was all Piney could take and called him every name in the book and then left, tearing the screen door off its hinges. That was eight years ago and they hadn't spoken since. Piney kept in touch with his mom, but she kept letting him know his father hadn't changed his mind yet.

Jake used the Studebaker to get there, putting it down as a test drive and Piney got in with him. They took off to Piney's parent's house, while JT stayed and worked on his bike. Jake and Piney didn't say much about the rift between him and his father, but talked more about the bike and when his father rode it. Piney told him he bought it before the war, so he could ride around. He said his father told him of trips he took and the goods times he had and things he saw. It wasn't long after he met his mother, that his dad no longer rode. Jake had a feeling his dad had given up his own dreams to settle down and raise a family. He was going to go on that assumption and play that angle.

They pulled up to the house and Piney knocked on the door. His mom answered and as soon as she saw him, she started crying and hugged him. Piney hugged her, giving her time to show her feelings and then he asked when his dad would be home. She said he'd be home at five, as usual and asked why. Piney explained about Jake wanting to buy the bike out back and she was more than happy to take him around and show it to him.

Jake and Piney pulled the ragged tarp off the bike and looked it over, then Jake checked the engine, to see if it was seized. When the starter moved through the cycle, Jake smiled and clapped Piney on the back.

"Might be a runner, Piney."

"So, Jake, how do you know my son?"

"Piney works for me, Mrs. Winston. He's one of my mechanics. I was mentioning I was in the market for a bike and he told me that his father had one, he might want to sell."

"Trust me, Jake. He'll sell it. I've been at him for years to get rid of it. It's sat here for almost twenty years and he's never taken the tarp off."

Piney perked up, hearing how his mother would be pushing his father to sell the bike. Jake checked out as much as he could with a visual inspection and was happy with what he saw.

"Mrs. Winston, could you please tell your husband I'm interested in buying his motorcycle and I'm willing to give him two hundred dollars for it. I'll call and come back tonight after dinnertime and bring the money with me, if he finds that acceptable."

"What's your last name again, Jake?"

"Sorry, never gave it to you. It's Harding. Jake Harding."

Jake and Piney thanked her and left to go back to the shop, but not before she laid some motherly love on her son. Piney seemed embarrassed by it, but Jake let him know it was a good thing, that one day he wouldn't be able to complain about it. Piney thought on that, as they made their way back. Piney looked at Jake and felt closer to this man, than he did to his own father.

They pulled into the garage lot and Jake parked the car and walked to the bay, where JT was tweaking the engine, trying to get it to run better. Jake came up and hit the switch to stop it. JT looked at him with surprise, wondering why he did it.

"Take the plugs out and clean and gap them. That'll make it run better and you'll have better results."

JT understood and his disgruntled feelings vanished.

"Sounds great though, JT. Doing a good job on it. Looks like Piney might have his bike too. Talked to his mother and she wants it out of the yard. She'll pester the poor guy into selling it."

"Right on, Jake. Piney, looks like we're in business, buddy."

Piney was smiling happily, knowing their plans for riding by the end of the week, were coming to fruition. JT took out the plugs and cleaned them, checking and adjusting the gap on them. He put them back in and pushed the boots on the ends. He primed the starter and with hardly any effort, the bike started and ran as smooth as the day it rolled off the line. JT kicked the stand up and backed it out of the bay. Jake and Piney watched, as JT rode around the lot, getting a feel for it and if anything was out of order, or not. After several laps, he pulled in front of the bay and beamed a smile, showing almost every tooth.

"Take it down the road and give it a bit of a run, clear out the pipes."

JT pulled away and gave it a good amount of throttle, heading down the lane, then hit the brakes hard and tested them. He went left and Jake and Piney listened to the bike fading in the distance.

"Damn, Piney. Bike sounds great, maybe I should have kept it?"

Piney looked at Jake and saw he wasn't serious, but knew he had just let go of something he had held onto for years, because of sentimental value. There was something about Jake that had both guys wondering about him. He came out of nowhere to befriend them and every time they were together, he was enriching and making positive changes to their lives.

They heard the sound of the Harley coming back, but it had a different tone, then they noticed it was two bikes. JT pulled in and then Lenny. They rode up to the bay and shut the bikes off.

"How are you, Lenny?"

"Okay, how are you, Jake?"

"Doing well, thanks."

Jake shook hands, then turned his attention to JT and the bike.

"How did it run, JT?"

"Great, smooth and the shifting is better now, too. I was turning around to come back, when Lenny was coming down the street. I think the front tire is losing air though. Feels a bit spongy now."

"I'll order a new one tomorrow. Anything else?"

"Nope, don't think so. Just needed a real good cleaning and oiling, bit of tweaking and she's nice. Wanna go for a ride, Piney?"

Piney wasted no time in jumping on. He rocked the bike onto the front tire and agreed it needed air first. JT filled it to the right pressure and Piney fired it up easily, with his weight. He clutched in and shifted it into first. He made a smiley face at everyone and headed down the lane. He turned right and headed towards SR88, letting the throttle out and getting the wind in his hair. He was more than a mile away, when he noticed a car coming up behind him, so he backed off on the throttle and slowed down from sixty to forty. The car tailed him, but wouldn't pass. He figured the best way to deal with it, was pull over, turn around and go back to the shop. He began braking and pulling to the side and waved the guy to go past. The car moved over, but slowed with him.

Piney looked over at the driver and was taken off guard, unsure of what to do, when he saw it was his father. At first, he felt like taking off and racing away from him, but something about the way he was looking at him, made him decide to stop. He edged over as far as he could and his father pulled in behind him. Piney killed the engine, the air becoming thicker, with the silence. He didn't look back, but heard the door close and knew his dad was coming to him. He got off the bike and stood beside it, leaning back against the seat. He picked a spot on the ground to stare at and watched, as the shadow covered it and then stopped.

"Piermont, I need to talk to you, son."

His voice wasn't harsh in tone, more distressed than anything. Piney still didn't look up, but showed resentment on his face.

"Call me Piney, I don't like that name."

"It's your name, son. We named you after your grandfather. Named Lester after your mother's dad."

Piney could hear the change in his dad's voice, when he spoke of his brother.

"Your mother told me you were at the house today with Mr. Harding, looking at the bike. Told me you were working for him. I had to come and let you know, son."

Piney was still refusing to look at him, but raised his head slightly, when he heard he wanted to say something and assumed the worst about the bike.

"Came to tell me, you don't want to sell the bike?"

"No, Mr. Harding can have the bike for all I care."

Piney's eyes twitched up further, hearing the bike was his, but unwilling to show his happiness.

"Son, Lester was killed. The Army sent us notice, after you left."

Piney raised his head and looked at his father. He could see he was doing his best to hold himself together, as he looked at him. Piney got off the seat and in a moment, all that had been between them vanished, the reality sinking in.

"Oh dad, not Lester."

"I'm so sorry son, but he's gone. They'll be sending him home soon and I'd like for us to be there as a family, to welcome him home and lay him to rest."

Piney looked at his father, his stoic look of earlier, melting away and tears came to his eyes. With the same need to respond, they hugged close, grabbing at each other's clothes to hold them together as close as they could. They stood on the side of the road and wept, unaware and uncaring of the cars that went past. They stayed connected, until they assured themselves of their bond, as father and son again. Piney broke away from the hug, but held onto his father, not wanting to break the connection. He wiped his eyes with the heel of his palm, squeezing out the tears, as he caught his breath and checked a few remaining sobs.

"I have to get the bike back, dad. I have to tell JT about Lester."

His father looked at him and knew he had to go back, back to a life of his own choosing. Piney could tell that his father was going to leave, if he went back.

"Come with me, dad. Just say hi to JT, talk with Jake for a bit about the bike at least."

Piney searched his father's eyes, as he searched in his, hope that all animosity was gone and forgotten between them. One thing his father could see in his eyes, was the desperate pleading for him to stay, no matter what the reason. All he needed to do was nod and smiles appeared for both of them. They hugged again, both happy for the reconnection between them. Piney let go and got on the bike, quickly starting it. He readied himself to go and looked at his dad.

"You look like a rider, son."

Those words, he took to heart, for they showed a recognition about him, something his father refused to do for all these years. Piney looked back and slowly turned around and headed back to the shop. His father got in his car and did a U turn, following him back down the road and into the lot. Piney pulled up in front of the bay and killed the engine, getting off and saying nothing to Jake, JT and Lenny, who were looking concerned about him. They saw the '61 Chevy Biscayne pull in the lot and Piney was directing the driver where to park. They watched the driver get out and JT recognized who it was and told the other two. They watched the pair approach them, seeing the somber faces and knew a great hurt was upon them. Piney brought his father over to meet Jake and then put his arm around JT's shoulder and walked him away from the others, without saying anything to them.

The three men stood and watched Piney talking to JT. Piney couldn't look his best friend in the eyes to talk to him, knowing he would lose the fragile composure he had mustered together. Only his father knew what he said, that made JT hug Piney close and begin to sob. They watched the two best friends comfort each other, then Jake had to ask Piney's father what was going on. With tears welling in his eyes, he looked at strangers and told them of the notice. The two ex-servicemen felt the pain, as if it was one of their own, knowing the anguish of his loss. Jake shook his hand and hugged him, offering his condolences, then Lenny did the same, sharing in his grief.

They looked back at JT and Piney, understanding their need to share this in private. Jake helped Piney's dad into the small office and sat him on his chair, letting him rest himself. He held out his hand to him and introduced himself.

"I'm so sorry, but I don't know your name, sir."

"Stanton Winston, just call me Stan."

Stan shook Jake's hand and offered up a weak smile. Jake decided on something positive to say.

"You've got a good boy there, Stan. I only met Piney a few days ago, JT, too. Both good boys. If ever two men could be called brothers, they could."

Stan looked at Jake and then to his son and lifelong friend, comforting one another. He looked back at Jake, his eyes telling a story, before he spoke.

"Known JT since he was a young boy, back when he was Johnny. Watched him and Piermont grow up together. It was all over him, that Piermont and I haven't spoken."

Jake knew something had happened in the past, that had caused a rift between father and son and now he was aware that the cause was a friendship.

"What happened, Stan? I can't see how their friendship caused a problem."

"It was back when they were in their teens. Piney and JT were caught stealing a car, just to go joy riding and ended up wrecking it. They were arrested and I ended up having to pay for the damages, because JT's mother was widowed and had no money to pay for it. I told him not to hang around with JT anymore, I forbade him to. We argued and fought over it and he ended up leaving and moving in with JT, over in Lodi. I was worried he would end up doing nothing, but get into trouble with him. When JT talked him into joining up with the Army and become paratroopers, I was afraid I would lose him over there. When his mother told me he was back, I was so happy, but I still couldn't bring myself to forgive him. When Lester enlisted last year, I prayed that God would protect my boy and bring him back safely, just like Piermont. Now he's gone and I can't stand the thought of losing the only son I have left."