Ah... It's Saturday, and there is two things I have to do. Unload the truck and return it, then, make up for a lost week with Nigel. The unloading bit was easy, just tip the truck over. But I don't want my junk broke, yet. So, a piece at a time we go till the truck is empty. We decide to get the truck back early, so I won't have to pay another day on it.

Finding the u-crawl-place was a mess, geesh! Wrong turns on top of wrong turns, but we arrived and took care of the final tally, friggin’ rental place. I got raped and never got as kiss. We head to the house, to see if we could make chaos look organized. It took a while, but everything found a place in the house. After a while of that, Nige looks at the clock, and all I hear, is "Son of a bitch!"

I run up to him. "What happened?"

"Molly invited us to a little get together at her place."

"No problem, when is it?"

"An hour ago."

"No problem, we'll be fashionably late, lets get cleaned up." We make it a quickie, and are on the road in no time.

As we get to the party, I see Molly and a few of the others I met last night. We say hi to everyone and I'm thinking to myself, 'Lets see, who is cool and who is not' and not wanting to test the waters myself, I go up to Molly.

"Is there anyone we should be wary of around here?"

Molly thinks for a minute, "I'm not sure, just be yourself and you will be fine."

Cool, I just have to figure out how to be myself. I find Nigel with his head stuck in the cooler and ask him, "Hey bartender, got something for me in there?"

He hands me a Corona, at least he didn't drop it on my lap again. We stay and gab, talking to most everyone there until the clock was telling us it was either real late, or real early. We bid everyone adieu, and putter back home. As it was late, we just changed and went to bed, I was pooped anyways and Nige couldn't be much better.

I awoke to the sound of a chainsaw, at least it sounded like one. I give him a nudge and he sputters, but continues buzzing along after a minute. Ok, time to get up. Let’s see, how should I wake Nige? Evil thoughts running through my head, I go to the kitchen for my ammo. Lets see, ice or warm water? Ice wins, and I grab a towel full and quietly make my way upstairs. Good, he's still out. I put the towel with the ice on the bed and place his hand in the middle of it, covering it with more ice. It takes a few minutes, but my plan starts working as the chainsaw disappears and he starts shivering, but not quite a teeth chatter. I gently hold his arm so his hand stays in the ice, then he takes other hand and grabs a blanket that's not there.

He starts stirring, then all of a sudden "What the!" as he wakes up fully.

I try my damnedest to get the ice out of view, but I was caught, cold handed. He pulls me in bed, grabs a handful of ice, and stuffs it down my shorts. I never thought I could dance like that, but I was being held down so I couldn't escape. He eventually let me go figuring he paid me back, but time will tell.

After I stretch “Stanley” out from his frozen state, I head to the kitchen to find something to gnaw on. After doing a “seek and destroy mission” on the kitchen, I head to the couch, but before I get there, I hear something falling on the stairs. Going to investigate, I see Nige on the floor holding his leg and cussing like a madman.

"Holy shit! Are you alright?"

"No, I'm not alright. I just fell down the stairs!"

"What can I do?"

"Well, for starters, you can get that look off your face."

"Huh?"

"Gotcha!"

I was holding his head, and when his last words sunk in, I dropped his head to the floor.

"Ow! What was that for,” he said, stifling a laugh.

"Oh Nige, you know, that must be my payback. By the way, you ever get Nigel-Jr stretched back to normal?" He almost bounced off the floor, he was laughing so hard.

Well, after THAT drama, it's Sunday after all, we power-lounge for the day. Watching movies, yakking, all the while, I was planning his demise again. What will it be this time? Hemorrhoid cream in his toothpaste? Itching powder in his pants? I'll decide that later. I drift off and when I wake up, I’m on the couch alone.

"Nige? Where are you?"

Not hearing anything, I check the house for him, to no avail. As I go outside, I see his truck is missing, 'Where would he go today,' I thought. Then I remembered that he drove the tow truck once in a while. Right then, I felt something sweep over me, it felt like jealousy, I pushed that back and sat on the deck, waiting.

It must have been 3 hours, but he returned with an almost happy look on his face.
As he walked up to me, I ask him, jokingly, "Was he cuter than me?"

"Huh? What are ya talking about?"

"I thought you had a tow, and wondered if he was cuter than me"

"Oh, that. Nah no tow. I went to the cemetery to see my dad and to get my head in order."

"Sorry, didn't mean to accuse or play with you. I woke up a couple hours ago and you were gone, and I got worried."

"I guess I should start getting into the habit of leaving a note. You as well."

He said the last part with a smirk.

Back in the house, I rummage thru the cupboards and see what I have to work with for dinner.

"Want to go to the store? We're getting a bit empty here, Nige."

"Nah, no place close that's open. Why don't we get a list together and you can hit the big chain store on your way back from work?"

"That'll work. In the meantime, let’s see what I can conjure up."

And conjure I did. Mac-n-cheese and hot dogs, but not normal, I have to mess with it and make it better.  seeing that Nigel didn't make a dash to the john, I guess I did good.

We decided that the next weekend, we would do the engine swap in my BMW and fine tune that. I asked Nige if I could buy the Honda I'm driving, and keep the Bimmer for a playtoy, as the Honda would make a better commuter. At first, he flat out refused money for it, but I convinced him that I have to do my share and things should be equal between us, so a deal is struck.

Damn! I hate getting up early. I get to go to work again. At least this work is clean. Lucky for me, Nigel showed me where the place is so I don't get too lost, while we were out Saturday. I give him a smack on the ass to wake up before I take care of my morning business. As I get ready to leave, Nige finally shows his face and bids me adieu, but not without getting a hug and a kiss before I hit the door.

I get to work, and find my parking spot, then, stroll inside to see where I was going to do my business. The place looks more like a warehouse than an office as I looked over the inside. I eventually find who I was supposed to report to when I got there, and I was greeted with a handshake and a smile. Mike is his name and he immediately starts talking.

"You must be related to the CEO if he sent all this stuff here for you."

I was confused now. "Huh? I was told that there were offices here and I could work here as easily as I could at corporate."

I didn't see a cube farm, just a office with my name on the door as we walked thru it to the inside. I see a computer, a monstrous catalog rack, and some boxes with my things in them from my other cube/office.

Mike goes on, "I thought the CEO was joking about this, until he laid everything out and explained how valuable a sales rep you really are, so I set things up here and everything from your other office was shipped."

I ask "How many other people are here?"

"Oh, we keep a full staff, pulling orders and shipping, along with office personnel, so you won't be bored up here."

He leaves me to my office, as I fix things and organize the place to my liking. After a bit, I place a call to corporate.

"Hi Betty, this is Darren, is Dave in?"

"Oh, hi Darren! How are you? We miss you here already."

"I'm doing great out here, no hustle, no bustle, and the air is clean."

"It sounds great. I'm switching you to Dave now. Take care, Darren."

"Thanks Betty."

As I wait for the CEO to pick up, I wonder if I had any following there at corporate. My thoughts were interrupted.

"Dave here, how are you doing in the sticks?"

"Oh, doing great, although I did get a surprise when I arrived this morning."

With a chuckle, he went on, "Oh really now, what could that be?"

"You were doing me a favor setting me up here, there are no other salespeople here."

"Ok, you caught me. You’re a valuable part of this company, and I didn't want to lose you. There it is, plain and simple."

"I don't know what to say, but thank you and I won't let you down."

"I know you won't, but, I'll be getting periodic reports from Mike anyway."

We chatted a bit longer and then hung up.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I step outside for some air when Mike walks up behind me.

"Dave can surprise you, can't he Darren?"

"You’re not kidding. I was expecting a small cube farm, but instead, I have my own office."

"You'll get used to it, now, lets go inside and call corporate to make your phone extension live."

"I'll be operating as I was then, just a remote office?"

"Yup, nothing will change there, but there is a rolodex on your desk with important numbers, like the local pizza joint!" He had to snort the last bit out, but I got where he was coming from.

As I finish getting my desk ready, my phone rings. "Darren speaking, how can I help you?"

"I'm looking for a header and a performance exhaust for a 88 BMW 325," said the voice on the other end.

As I get the items looked up and go over options with the caller, I get the billing information and shipping address, then it hits me "Nigel?"

"I wondered how long it was going to take til you figured it out."

"What do you need this stuff for anyway?"

"It's not I who will need it, it's you. That engine has to be able to breathe. So, are you getting the stuff, or what?"

"If the car needs it, then sure, I can just do it as a pay deduct from here."

“If that's the way you want it, go ahead."

"I have to get going. I love ya, Nige."

"Don't forget the store on your way home, and by the way...I love you too."

The rest of the day went well as I fell into my routine at the new location. On the way home, I remembered to go to the store, so I hit the closest supermarket, and picked up everything on the list along with a few extras and checked out. After I left the market, I spied some neat little places to check out, restaurants, stores and the like but nothing like the malls back home. We’re going have to play tourist here one of these days.

Once home and unloaded, I got the kitchen squared away, then grabbed a brew and sat on the deck, waiting for Nige and thinking of payback. As I'm finishing my beer, he pulls in and parks.

"So, where's the stuff," Nige asks once he’s on the deck.

"I had to order it. I should have it all in my office by Thursday."

"Cool, want a Beer?"

"Yeah, ya wanna?"

"I wanna"

I go inside and grab a couple of fresh frosties and go back out. Nigel's kicked back on the lawnchair when I get back.

"Here ya go."

I hand one off to him as I find a seat.

"Ya miss me there yet?"

"Nah, I missed ya last week, just talking with you today fixed everything."

"Today was interesting, to say the least" as I went on about the arrangements at work now.

"Well Dar, it seems that your boss really wanted to keep you around, like me."

"Yeah, I kind of thought so, but engineer all this, for me?"

"Damn Dar, you gotta start looking at yourself with someone else’s eyes once in awhile. You would be amazed at what you see."

"Yeah, yeah. I keep hearing that, from everyone. It's what I'm use to, and it's a hard hole to get out from. You should know that. You've been there."

We talked for a little while about that until Nigel’s gut alarm went off. That meant it was dinner time.

After dinner, it's lazy boy time. We relax in front of the tube, watching some Travel Channel show about Australia.

More or less talking to myself, I say, "I'd like to go there someday."

Nigel perks up.

"Really? I've been thinking about it since I was a kid, sounds like fun down under."

I get curious.

"What to you want to do and see there? Visit the local pubs, gaze at the Sheilas, or the way they drive on the wrong side of the road?"

"Well, you got two out of three. Pubs, hell yes! Driving on the wrong side of the road sounds like fun, not to mention all the Aussie hot rods down there that don't get to the states. Sheilas, on the other hand, are nice to look at, but don't do anything for me. Tanned surfers, on the other hand, do."

He had to stifle a laugh on that. I was of the same opinion on that matter.

"So, when do you want to go, I was kinda thinking January, it'll be their summer."

That sounds good. I'll have to see where my vacation time runs, but I'll have my secretary call you with the info."

"Secretary-my ass! By the way, do you have a direct line, or do I have to go through channels every time I want to talk to you, not that it isn't fun?"

I hand him a card with my number on it, and we get back to Aussie tv.

After a while, I ask him about the exhaust for the car, if it'll be enough.

"It'll be fine, and it’ll sound mean as hell too."

We go over the things done to the engine, and I ask about any modifications we have to make to get it all working at it's peak. Several different clutches were discussed, along with a stronger fuel supply system. I asked him, jokingly, about nitrous oxide injection.

His eyes perked, and nonchalantly said, "It'll hold it, but you better upgrade the clutch and fuel system right off the bat then, can't have you burning up that engine."

I take a mess of notes so I have something to go by tomorrow when I go through the catalogs. I’d have to call a few of the manufacturers for recommendations, and better pricing, since I still have my connections. Membership does have it's advantages.

It's getting late and I'm pooped. I gotta get used to the commute now. At least my life is turning around, for the better now. I have a job that I love, and someone to come home to who feels as strongly about me as I do him.
Life is good.



To Be Continued...

If your reading this, it must either mean you read it all the way thru, or skipped to the end. Hopefully, it's the former.

To everyone who stuck by this project, it's not done by a long shot.