Ember
Closing the hood of the crown Victoria that came into the body shop portion of our shop, for crushed fenders, bullet holes, and rim damage with flat tires, I walk around gently gliding my fingers across the freshly painted fenders, "Tommy, No more flat tires hey?" I watch Tommy shake his head with a smirk "Em, you say this all the time and I am always right back here four days later." I shake my head while I nod and hand Tommy his keys, "Oh I know, check out with Robin up front, a tip would be appreciated this time!" Tommy lets out a chuckle before getting in the Crown Vic and drives around upfront before getting out once more and walking into the building to pay Robin.
Robin and I have been running "Vixens Auto Shop" since Dad passed, the shop wasn't always called Vixens, it used to be "Ethans Auto" " but when Dad was ready to step down he let us rename the shop and make it ours, although everything is still how he left it apart from the name. Robin and I have been working in the shop so long with Dad that when we took over none of the customers changed. Now it isn't public information that we do repair work for some dangerous people like gangs or mafia in the area, that info is only spread by word of mouth. of course, we have regular loyal customers who come in every 5,000 miles for an oil change and general maintenance, which is easier, to say the least. I try to stay in the back working on the cars and doing inventory, Robin works on the vehicles and runs the paperwork. It's a lot but we get it done and wouldn't change anything.
I glance up at the clock on the wall that reads 12:30, time is going by slower today, Letting out a sigh I walk up and grab the next ticket hanging on the board and read the name "Evans", and just under it reads "21 honda civic si," further down the paper reads, "Front bumper repair, possible radiator replacement, headlight replacement, oil change and top off fluids" I let out a chuckle and look through the sliding window on the wall to robin who is still talking to Mr.Evans, "Robbie, fluid top off?!" Robin looks over to me with a smirk and a wink and points to the gentleman, "It's what he requested Em," I shake my head and look over to him, "Evans, top off? Like I don't do that already for you every time you come here, and radiator again?? stop hitting stuff man, give me 3 hours and you'll be good. "
Turning around I grab the keys from the bag and walk out to the blacked-out Civic and pull it around to the last bay, hang the ticket on the hook on the side of my toolbox, and get to work. Taking the whole bumper and headlights out, shaking my head when I find he in fact does need a new radiator, I walk into the back room and grab a new radiator since this is now his 3rd replacement, we order 2 at a time for him. I carry the radiator back over to my box and get to work on the bumper first, sanding and repainting, while that dries I replace the radiator and fix the headlights, change the oil, flush the brake fluid along with the coolant, and top off the rest of the fluids, reattaching the bumper and reconnecting the headlights. I stop for a second to inspect my work, then get in and start up the car. "runs like it was straight from the dealer" I say to myself with a smirk, I reset the oil light and look over to the clock, 3:48, "I was close," I get out turning the car off, walking to the front of the car again, I double check the dipstick making sure the oil is at the right level and grab the ticket, closing the hood and drive the car back up to the parking by the lobby. I hang the ticket back on the hook by the sliding window tapping on it so Robin knows it's done and I sit down by the back computer for a second. "6 needs to hurry up. I have a hot date with the shower and my bed."
