Seven

“Remember the old man sayin’ his kid did all that iron work. Wonder if that’s why she came? To have a look at what her old man had done and look at all the iron work too?”

“She probably has a brother. Black smithing’s fuckin’ hard work, not for the likes of her, she’s ... tiny”.

“Tiny? She held her own if you remember. Out ran you!” Frost admitted, pulling on his throttle so he could gain more headway. He was sick of talking to Beetle about the gorgeous woman whose face both men were yet to see.

They were about twenty minutes out of Stillwell, had another fifteen minutes on top of that to get to Riversdale, the suburb in which Bob lived, Kamryn too.

Bob was thrilled when he received the call, getting a visit on a Sunday afternoon. Since the work ended, his future looked very, very quiet.

Deciding to run down the street and get a few cold ones to share with Craig and Gabe, Bob also purchased some mixed drinks for his wife Mai and lime water for his only child, Kamryn.

Beetle squeezed the throttle, he also wanted to get to their destination sooner than later. By passing Frost he opened all cylinders, the loudness of his bike having kids press their tiny faces against car windows when they passed.

Wearing his black shades, leather cut and charcoal jeans, Beetle looked ... unfriendly. His bandana just visible beneath his faceless helmet, his hair tied behind him with a leather shoelace. His size eleven boots, no buckle but zipped on the inside, a chunky heel resting on either foot peg for comfort.

He loved his ‘Fat Boy’. Custom made, One off! Hog was his baby with its big twin, V shape engine and custom pipes, the noise alone gave Beetle a semi.

Broomstick handles that sat a little higher for the length of his arms, chromed jets. Laced wheels, the spokes all hand installed. Slimline soft tail with his very comfortable, very wide seat to carry Beetles enormous frame.

The fuel tank had been custom sprayed with chromaFlair paint, an outline of a beetle’s outer shell, enhanced and finished with colors ranging from purples to oranges, greens. The shade would change if you walked past or like today, when he rode past squished up faces inside their cages. Poor bastards!

This was the life he thought riding grim faced but his smile huge on the inside.

**

Why aren’t you home, we have visitors.

At hospital. Kam rode her bike and got two bugs imbedded in her right eye. doctors flushing now. bad girl got into a fight last night.

Will she be alright. My poor girl. Tell her dad says hello.

No. Bad girl.

Bob ignored his wife’s hostile replies because he knew she didn’t mean them. Not really! Mai came across very stern, but she had a kind gentle heart, one which he adored.

Can you pick up take out? Have had a few drinks.

Who is there?

Craig and Gabe. Co-workers

Shouldn’t I cook?

No my darling. These fellas are probably healthy eaters. Maybe pizza?

“Fine, Hoa anh đào”. (cherry blossom)

“My wife is at the hospital with my daughter, they shouldn’t be long”, Bob said placing his phone down on the kitchen table, another handmade piece made by Kam.

“Nothing serious?” asked Frost looking at Beetle who made the kitchen chair look small.

“My daughter, according to my wife got something in her eye while riding her motorbike last night. They shouldn’t be long. I hope you don’t mind pizza’s for tea, we weren’t expecting visitors”, Bob said opening the fridge to extract some more cold ones.

“Had a few of those myself, shades ...“, Frost added accepting the beer Bob was offering while pointing to the pair of sunglasses resting on his head.

“Yes, well I can’t see how that could happen when she has a fully visored helmet”.

Beetle knew how. Cheeky runt took off without wearing one like a bat-out-of-hell. ′I wonder if he knew his daughter had visited their club last night’, he thought.

“You said she went riding, does she own a bike. Dirt or pushbike with pedals?” asked Beetle popping the lid of his drink and taking a chug.

“My daughter is a maniac. Rides a motorbike like you men but takes off in the middle of the night and zoom! She’s gone like the wind”.

“Maniacs”, Frost echoed.

“Rides like you men but she has a mind of her own. Always has. To be honest she frightens both her mother and I but she’s ... determined. This table we are sitting at is one of her own designs. She’s the one I told you about. Made all those light fixtures and brackets I installed. Thanks for that by the way, it means a lot to display her work”.

“You shittin’ me”, Beetle gagged, trying not to waste any of his beer. “Your daughter made those fancy lights and the signage that’s hanging out the front, she made those brackets too?”

“She did. And if I may, now that we aren’t in the club any longer, would you mind not swearing. My wife and I prefer not to use bad language around our daughter. She doesn’t need the ... urgh ... encouragement”.

“We’ll try Bob but you slang a few around, let’s be honest”, said Frost pulling up a chair.

Bob laughed, having another swig of his drink. “That I did, and it felt good. Hanging out with you men instead of white-collar workers who think their shit don’t stink”, he added, his cheeks shading also.

“There you have it. Your old lady, wife ...” Frost corrected “... no other children?”

“No just the three of us”, he said making more conversation.

**

By the time Mai had pulled the car into the driveway, Kamryn had fallen asleep. She felt like she’d gone through the ringer, and that didn’t include using her ninja skills nor the long ride home. The doctors were, excessive.

“We must determine if you have a tear on your cornea”.

“Wait a little longer, if you start developing a temperature you may have an infection”.

“May I suggest a re-visit to the emergency department tomorrow evening when my shift starts”.

“I can do a home visit if you prefer”.

Mai took over then, a doctor might be an influential and noble profession, but she was no fool. Kamryn was both beautiful and hardworking, however she was also willful and determined. No match for the likes of men who drooled so openly.

Mai saw the two huge motorbikes parked to the left of her driveway, proceeding into the garage as the door rolled open, allowing her husband to close the electric roller shut as soon as she turned off the ignition.

“Kamryn. Wake up. xương lười (lazy bones). Chúng ta có khách (We have guests) Bring in the pizzas”.

“Hmmm. Okay mum”, Kam said, trying not to rub her itchy eye with the back of her hand.

“Pffft! Stop. Bad girl”, Mai said slapping Kamryn’s hand away absently.

“Alright. I will bring in the pizzas”, she said exiting the car in a bad mood.

"Gái hư". (Bad girl) Mum said walking ahead.

**