"Come on Steve, let's go the the "auto-extravinganza." Steve knew his friend was right, he needed to get out of the house, but sometimes Steve could be a little stubborn. "Why would I want to go hang around a bunch of redneck, hillbilly wanna-be's, marveling at the Duke's of Hazard Dodge Charger or some monster truck?" "Because it will be fun," replied his friend Dave. "Maybe you might see something that will get you working on that truck project of yours. How long are you just going to let it just sit there in your garage?" "I think I might sell it," answered Steve. "I don't have the time ot the money to mess with it, so I might as well sell it to someone who might be able to finish it up." Steve had started building a 61 GMC half ton truck a few years ago. He had taken off everything to the frame, and had gotten the cab and body straight. Now he was stuck, he didn't know what he wanted to do with the truck. Did he want to keep the old six cylinder motor or put in a small block V-8? Did he want a new suspension and brakes? He had thought about lowering the body, maybe with air bags. That all took time-and money, and Steve had little of each lately. "They will have big-beers at the show," teased Dave. "You know how you like big-beers, and I will drive so that you can have more than two." "Sure," answered Steve, "and they will cost six bucks each." "Who cares? You need to get out of this place and go have soon fun." Dave was headed out the door. "Grab your keys and wallet and let's go!" As they got closer to the downtown auditorium, Steve could already see the traffic getting heavy. He was glad that he had a friend like Dave that would drag him out, even if it was just to a Hot Rod show. Between work and his girlfriend leaving him, Steve had not had a good time in several months. Maybe this would bring him out of this funk. They got it line to enter the parking lot. The show was free, but it would cost eight dollars to park. "Eight bucks just to park?" Dave exclaimed to the parking attendant. "What could be worth eight bucks in the parking lot?" The attendant didn't respond, and slowly peeled off two dollar bills for chage. "Enjoy the show," was all he said. It was sunset as they finally got out of Dave's Toyota, and the sunset gave a beautful orange glow around the auditorium. "Looks like the place is on fire," he said. "With all the gas, alcohol and cigarettes inside-it just maybe," answered his friend. The show as a typical big hot rod show. There were lot's of wild cars inside showing off the skills of America's car builders. The General Lee was there, and there were long lines waiting to see it up close. No one was sure if the lines of men were wanting to look at the car or the models dressed in Daisy Duke cut-offs. There were lots of chromed out show cars, that would almost blind you with their reflection. There were lowriders and monster trucks. There were concept cars that manufactures were working on as well as antique cars and trucks all over the hall. There were new cars, old cars and lots of car parts. Steve wandered around to check out the various booths, but nothing really caught his eye until he came to Bob Diamonds Custom Cars booth. There was a 51 Mercury there that was cherry. It was chopped and channeled, with a nice low stance. It had a mother of pearl paint job, and the doors were open the show the burgandy tuck and roll lether interior. The car was nice, but it the corner of the booth was the real work of art. She had her auborn hair pilled on her head and tied with a big polka dot bow. She had a skimpy white blouse and tight leather pants on her long, thin legs. She was licking a red sucker with her bright red lips and she had tatoos on both of her arms. She had the look of a hot rod goddess. She must be the girlfriend or wife of the builder thought Steve. She was sitting in the corner, and her body lauguage showed she was bored. Steve could not stop staring at her. He tried to look away, to check out the car, but he kept looking back at her. He was attracted to her like a moth to a flame. He knew if he keep staring- he would get burned. "Let's go," said Dave. "I want to go check out the Bud girls." " You go on," said Steve, "I want to ask this guy some questions." The builder was pitching the car hard to a middle age man with a leather jacket and lots of gold jewelry. "Ok, just don't take too long. You can't affford this guy anyway, he does too good of work." Dave went looking for a beer booth, and Steve continued to admire the girl. She almost caught him gazeing at her, but he quickly turned away at the last second. When he turned back, she had gotten up from her chair and made her way behind the back curtain if the booth. Damn! She's gone, thought Steve. As he started away from the booth, he noticed a gap between the Bob Diamond booth and the next one. He knew he should just keep walking, but he stopped and went through the gap. As he got behind the curtains he stopped and looked back towards the booth he had just left, and there she was, just standing there. She turned and saw Steve standing there. "Are you looking for something?" she asked. "No. Well, yes, I am looking for my friend. I have lost him in the crowd and I thought maybe he came back here." The girl looked at Steve. " I saw your friend leave a while back, he is not back here." Oh no! She saw me out there, she knows I was checking her out. She must think I'm stalking her." Steve was now scared. "Hi! My name is Cherie Denise." Steve was like an awkward teen-age boy again. "That's a real pretty name." "Thanks," she said. "You go a name?" "My name is Steve," blurted out Steve, "just Steve." Nice meeting you Just Steve." Steve turned his head, trying not to show his embarasment. " Come on Just Steve, I will help you find your friend." "That's Ok," I think he went to the beer lines. I will look there." Cherie answered " Great, I could use a big one myself" Steve turned his head towards her, and realized she meant a beer. " Come on,"Steve said, "I'm buying." As they made their way back into the main floor, Cherie asked," Do you have a rod?" "Yes," Steve answered. "Well, sort of. I am fixing up a 61 GMC, but it's not even close to finished." "Really? A 61 GMC? I had a 64 Chevy back home in Alabama. It was a reall POS. Talk about redneck camo, it had it. The hood and both doors were all of different colors and the was almost as much bondo on the truck as there was rust. I finally drove it into a river, damned near drowned." "Why did you drive it in a river?" asked a puzzeled Steve. "A girlfriend and I were joy riding one summer night. It was hot and since it had no AC, we took off our tops. A group of boys starting chasing us and I had that baby floored. I missed a turn going on a bridge and drove that truck off into the river, and the boys just left us. By the time we got out of the sinking truck and back to the road, we were mad, wet, drunk and half naked. Pissed my father off!" Steve Went up to the beer venders and bought two big beers. " I don't see your friend. Where else could he be?" "He's around," answered Steve. "You don't seem too worried? That's good because I want to look around at the cars some more." Cherie grabbed Steve's arm and started to drag him through the crowds. He was able to keep up, and noticed that they were headed towards the exit. "Where are we going?" he asked. "Outside," answered Cherie, that where the cool cars are." Steve asked "There are exhibitions outside? I didn't see any." "No silly, that is where the parking lot is. Those are the cars I like. These over chromed, over waxed, over priced cars give me the creeps. I like a car I can drive everyday. A car I can live in." Steve was impressed, but this girl still scared him. As they got to the exit a large security guard yelled at them,"You can't take those beers outside!" "Relax Barney Fife, we aren't driving off with them," said Cherie as she continued out the door. Steve gulped down as much as he could and then threw the rest in a trash can at the door. He looked back and the guard was still looking at them, but Cherie was not going to stop. She has balls, he thought. They wandered through the parking lot of cars. It was now dark, but the parking area was well lit. They stopped at an early seventies Pontiac station wagon. The car was fairly sound and had a wild, wine colored paint job with siver flames. "I like longroofs," exclaimed Cherie. " My daily driver is a 58 Buick wagon, and I love it. " This paint job is kind of wild," added Steve. " I like flashy paint jobs," said the girl. "I think it really sets off the lines. That is why I have my tattoos." Steve turned to Cherie and asked,"How many tattos you have?" " "Well, I have these on this arm, and these on this one. I have a butterfly on my left tit and the Rolling Stones lips on my upper thigh. You want to see it?" Steve was shocked. "Sure...I guess." Cherie just started to laugh, "I'll bet you do." She turned and started to look at other cars parked at the show. She went to a mid sixties Chryseler Imperial and pulled open the drivers door. What is she doing? Is she trying to rip off stereos? Steve cautiously approached as Cherie reached around and unlocked the back door of the car and opened it. She slid in as Steve Approached. " Is this your car?" he asked. "No, is it yours?" Steve shook his head signaling no. "Well. we have that straight, why don't you slide back here and lets talk." "It's not our car, what about the owners?" Cherie looked up at Steve, " I don't see them, do you?" Steve was still looking around when he felt a hand grab him from and pull him into the car. " I don't know Cherie, I don't fell very comfortable about this." "Relax Just Steve! Lean back and enjoy." Cherie was right, this car had lots of leg room in the back and the upholstery was very comfortable. "Hey, this is comfy" he said. Cherie has slid over and put her legs in Steve's lap. She then reached up and kissed him. Then she kissed him again, long and hard. Her tounge was like her legs, long and thin. Steve knew he needeed to stop, but he could not. He was powerless to keep his animal insticts in check. "To Be Continued."
Will Steve get to second base? Does Cherie really have a Rolling Stones tatoo on her thigh? Is Bob Diamond Cherie's singnificant other? If so...is he going to beat the snot out of Steve? Will the owners of the Imperial come back? Will they ever get the smell out? Will Steve use his six cylinder motor?, or go with the V-8. And what about Dave? All these question as well as others may be answered in "The Auto Show-Part Two.
Steve finally had enough strength to pull away from Cherie. As he looked down he could see the butterfly on her boob, just out of a light pink push-up bra. "We can't do this, there are lot's of questions that need to be asked." Cherie seemed a little perturbed with the pause in action. "What questions? You just need to relax." She reached out towards Steve once again. "Who was that guy at the show, the one working the booth you were in." Cherie was now crawling over Steve to get out. "His name is Bob, Bob Diamond. He is pro car builder." Steve was beggining to settle down now, but he could see his reluctance was upseting Cherie. They both crawled outside. "Who is he to you?" he asked. "He is my boyfriend, or fiance I guess." "Your fiance? You were about to sleep around with your finance still in the building?" As soon as Steve asked that question he wished he could take it back. "Yes, I guess that makes me some big slut to you. Well fine, I am one. It had just been so long since I really had any fun, and it seemed so right making out with you. Don't worry, you don't have to have this on you concious anymore." Cherie buttoned up her blouse and tried to straighten up her hair. "Wouldn't you know I would have left my purse inside? I don't even have a mirror!" Steve felt like a huge jerk. "I'm sorry!" he said. "I was practically stalking you from the moment I saw you, I had never seen anything so exotic. I had been working so hard for so long, that when I did get an opprotunity to have fun, I guess I just forgot how, and I got frightened." Steve was starting to sound like a woman. "I have had an amazing time with you, and I guess I didn't think it could be really happening." "All you guys are the same, you get to thinking that work is all there is. Bob had always worked on cars, that is how we met, he helped work on my Buick. We did a lot of things in that backseat. Then he opened his own shop. Now, all he does is work. All he cares about is satisfying his rich customers, and he no longer cares about me." " I doubt that," questioned Steve. "How could he not care about someone as sexy and desirable as you?" "I don't know, but we haven't had sex in weeks. He was finishing out that Mercury, and then his buyer changed his mind. I will never understand those assholes anyway. They will spend fifty or sixty thousand dollars on a car that they never drive. What fun is that? I would rather have two or three ten thousand dollar cars that I did the work on, and ones that I can drive all the time." She looked back towards the car show with her arms folded across her chest. Steve opened the back door of the Chrysler, and sat inside. " Come on back in here," he said. " I have something for you." "Why on earth would I want to get back in there with you?" Cherie asked. "Give me one good reason." "Because with the pent up sexual energy that you and I have, we might explode when we rub together." Cherie smiled a small smile when she heard that reason. "When we are finished, you will throw rocks at any other boy who tries to satisfy you," added Steve. "I didn't see any rocks between here and the car show," Cherie said. "What would I have to throw?" "By the time we are finished, there may be a volcanoe exploding from the parking lot, that might give you ammo." Steve patted the seat by him. Cherie started to walk around the door, then jumped in on a startled Steve. She kicked off her stilletto heals and shut the car door with her feet. Fortyfive minutes or so later, the couple was walking back towards the inside. Steve was doing more swaying than walking. They were both trying to get straightend up before they went inside. This was an awkward time, and Steve didn't know exactly what to say. "You do have the Rolling Stones lips tattoed on your thigh. Wow, and a natural readhead as well," he said as he pulled a short red hair from his teeth. "Just a little something for you to remember me by," joked Cherie. "I won't need any props,"said Steve, "trust me." As they prepaired to enter the building, a security guard approached them. "You two can't come back!" he barked. "Who'se going to stop me?" asked Cherie as she barged right in. As Steve attempted to follow he felt the guards hand against his chest. "I said you can't come back in." Steve was puzzled. "Why not, it's a free show?" "You broke the rules when you took a beer outside, you are no longer welcome inside." "I did what? She was the one who took the beer outside. Why didn't you stop her?" "Do you think anyone can really stop her?" the guard asked. Steve looked inside and saw Cherie give him a small wave, and then blew him a kiss goodbye. "No, I never could." Steve waved back. "I need to get inside and find my friend, then I will leave." What is your friends name, we can page him for you." Steve knew he would never see Cherie again. "Dave, Dave Stewart." The guard shouted to another guard inside the hall. "Page a Dave Stewart! Tell him his party is waiting for him at the main entrance." Steve turned a faced the parking lot. He saw a '59 El Camino doing a serious burnout just ahead of him and chuckled as the security guards currsed at the driver. As he surveyed the parking lot, he knew Cherie was right, about a lot of things. These were the best cars at the show, the ones outside. They were cars and trucks that people drove and worked on everyday. They weren't bought, they were built. They reflected each of their drivers personality. She was also right about not spending enough time with friends and lovers. Work wasn't everything, and when a man lets work consume his life, his life isn't worth living. He hoped Bob Diamond would learn that before he lost Cherie, but he doubted if he would. Sometimes, men aren't the sharpest tool in the chest. He watched as others came out of the show and he tried to figure out who was the owner of the Chrysler he had used earlier, but he never could. "There you are, exclaimed Dave. "Where have you been? I have been looking all over for you." "I went ouside and these assholes won't let me back in!" answered Steve. Dave looked at the guards with the same disdain as Steve. "Why did you have to go outside anyway?" he asked. Then his face brightened up. "You got laid!" Steve tried to deny this but Dave continued, "You either got laid or you have started cross dressing. There is bright red lipstick all over your face and shirt." Steve started to try and wipe off the evedience. "Who was she?" Dave asked. "Oh..just a hot rod goddess," answered Steve. "Oh, you will have to give me more than that," insisted the friend. "Come on, spill all the dirt." "There is really nothing to tell," added Steve. "Come on, just one little detail, that is the least you can do for me after I drug you out here and then you left me to score." "Ok, one thing. She likes station wagons." "She likes station wagons? Did you bag my mother?" Steve chuckled,"hardly, I have met your mother, and this chick was deffinitly not her." As they walked out into the parking lot, Steve saw an older couple getting into the old Chrysler. He could hear the lady as she scolded the man. "I can't believe you left this car unlocked! I left personal things in here. What if they had been stolen?" The man just shrugged, and smiled. "Then the woman sniffed, "what is that smell?" As Dave and Steve started towards Steve's place, Dave asked, "So...aren't you glad I made you come? Steve grinned and nodded. "You have no idea." ************************************** Merry Christmas from the Cowman. Peace on Earth (or a piece in the back seat.)
Thanks, that was fun. Short 'fiction' is always a good time. And to those whose only comment was a complaint, you should have just said nothing.
The Jalopy Journal
