Trickle of smoke like a smear on the stars
rises
climbs straight up
'like its lookin' fer its momma'
cradles the tin in her hands
King Beer, Carlin' Ice
tip toes on the fresh packed snow
Vincent will be working late
riding season's not far off

stops catching the stars for
a moment letting the burn of
the Grey Goose in her room
settle...Been a brutal day
her feet melting into the drive
like the dog paw prints
Like her dads King Sheperd
when they busted him
they put Tiger down
lassoed him with a stick
and a cable
she cried for days
taught him from a puppy
Carls gone away for a long
long time her momma said
combing her hair

she pops the tab on the
beer and swings the door
to the work shed open
(no music tonight?)
'Hey Kiddo! slow night?'
she tips her head back
and takes a long slow slug
of the beer..grimaces wiping
her mouth with checked flannel
shirt..
'thought U might be thirsty!'
He stands up..his jeans and
shirt muddied with grease
and oil...sets the wrenches
down..
'was just thinking of coming in
for a break, ( leans back looking
over his shoulder to the bike..carbs
sitting on the milkcrate..a gooseneck
lamp shines on it)
He reaches out...takes the beer
and drinks long and hard..
she smiles up at him...always
liking how he smelled of gasoline
and varasol...woodsmoke from
working out here..
Looks over his glasses at her
'slow nite sport..figured u would
be out with your bestie!'
she stands next to the little stove
holding out her foot flexing the
ankle enjoying its radiant heat
A tea kettle simmers atop..
his hot chocolate is nearby

'naw..drop'n'stops shut down for
a month...Bebee is visitng her
boyfriend..they got a weekend
till he transfers north again,
watcha working on?'
he nods taking her in with his
eyes...
'oh just putting fresh seals on
her..give her some more oomph
whenever this winter decides to
pack up and head south!'

she swings her legs over the
machine...and leans forward
squints into the imaginary wind
looks up at him with one eye
still squinted..
'when ya gonna teach me to
drive her?'
he laughs...another sip of
beer...the warmth...Grey Goose\
slides further into the comfort
he takes a big sigh...
'told you...when you got your
car learners..get a feel of the
cages..then I will teach you
if..its okay with your ma'

he sits on the small chair
and picks up the tools
all he has to do is re attach
it to the motor

'can I help?'
he almost starts to say no
remembering when his son
was alive
when he was younger then
she...both of them working
till late
and he stops himself
'uh..sure sport..U can help me
tighten up the bolts...I can use
a little help holding the carb
its easy enough but goes a lot
faster with two people!'
he can see her happy smile
she bounces on the balls of
her feet and small tears of joy
glisten at the corners of her
eyes...

he kneels down on one knee
and grabs the carb..puts his
finger on the gaskets to hold
them in place..
she bends down next to
him...legs straight
her hip brushing his shoulder
'okay..I just gotta tilt her for
moment...okay looks good
if you wanna just hold her
here...yah...thats right...
opps..oh s'kay..wait...i gotta
the nut..gotta grab a box
end to this...'

her hair spills down
shinning in the lamp
over his wrist
hes got the wrench
and like a magician,
(she thinks) hes slipping
all the pieces together..

their arms entwined
he puts his face
closer to see all the
space and tolerance
matches
in profile he looks
like the photos on
the bookcase of
his son
her arms are hurting
even though its polished
aluminum
but hes swift on threading
it all together..
the wrench and his arm
in movement
his watch on leather
strap flickering in the light
she bends her knees
to relieve the strain
and she falls into him
but he catches her
'easy girl..we aint got her
yet!'...gives her a quick smile
she turns her head on her
long neck...her hair
falling across his eyes
he stops for a moment
and deftly sure
tucks her hair behind
one ear..
she hopes there will
be grease marks

'whats that cologne yer
wearing?'
she elbows him
'silly billy.its not cologne
its from the Verve in the
mall..its called Candifloss'
he nods..almost got the
bolts on
He knows not to laugh..
shes a sensitive one

'Okay..you can let go now
I gotta torque it just so'
she waits for a moment
admiring the work
happy to be included in
his world
hes so guarded
stands up...stretching her
arms...arching her back
catchs him taking a quick
look..smiles..
he never notices much
but I know he sees everything
she thinks

He stands too...mirroring
her..his arms can touch the
ceiling...he reachs for the
beer and takes another
long drink..
his beard is growing longer
more white...its a good look

they stand speechless while
the fire crackles and pops
then her phone hums with
an incoming text from her
bestie...
the spell is broken
but she waits to answer
the bike sits gleaming
and the moon
shines in through the
window....frost on the
single pane etching

...