CHAPTER 1: THE BATTERED FORD GUY

CHAPTER 1: THE BATTERED FORD GUY

Jude was tired and drained. He had stood on his feet for six hours straight today in a class of over a hundred, handling a lecture with one other colleague of his.

To say he was drained was even an understatement. He wanted nothing more than to get home and collapse on the bed, after eating the delicious food he knew his wife had made him.

He dragged his heavy feet to his car, opening the back door and tossing in his battered briefcase. It was high time he got another one. He'd used that one all through school and then for his post graduate studies as well.

He pushed the door of his car closed, careful not to slam it or else he would have to pick it off the ground if it happened to finally fall off its hinges.

He went around to the front door and opened it no, throwing himself into the driver's seat. He would have been more than happy to drive straight home but then he had one more commitment.

The car wash where he worked the register. He had to work there Tuesdays and Fridays for the extra cash. He guessed they were the days Brady's youngsters couldn't come into work.

Brady was the boss at the car wash where he worked, ostensibly named “Brady's car wash.”

Jude was desperate to get everything done for the day and be on his way home. He was bone tired, and if not that he…they really needed the money, he would abandon the crappy evening shift with Brady's Car wash and head home.

He started his car and winced when the car spluttered and choked loud enough to tell the entire school that he was leaving the campus.

He'd heard what the students called him because of his car. He had known since his second year as a teacher here. He even heard them whisper the name as he walked by classes sometimes.

Mr Chuggy. The battered Ford guy..

He tried not to mind, of course, but it bit into his pride. Pride that he was not supposed to have anymore. Pride that he should have since wiped off of him. He was a different man now.

Poor, and struggling, barely managing to get by.

But at least, he still had his beautiful wife. And having her was everything. It was better than anything and everything else in the world.

He drove to Brady's car wash and parked his car outside in the parking lot in front of the small store, with the washing space beside it.

He opened his car door and stepped out carefully.

Brady was standing outside when he arrived. Brady was a small man, with a receding hairline and skinny arms. He looked harmless enough, it was his eyes that set him off. He had the greediest eyes Jude had seen for miles.

The man loved money an insane amount. And Jude was of the mind that he was into some other shady business with really secretive people that sometimes went into the back of the store with him.

Jude shut the car door, and started walking to Brady, the man was standing with his feet apart, and his arms folded in front of him.

He stopped as he felt the way Brady was buzzing with satisfaction at seeing him.

“Hey, Brady,”

Brady nodded to him and waved at him to follow him into the store. The store had a neon sign above it that was supposed to say Brady's Car Wash, but instead spelt out ‘Brady’ Car Was’ because the s and h had since fallen off.

Jude trailed after Brady into the store, and they went behind the counter. Brady grabbed an apron and rubber gloves and shoved them at Jude.

Jude looked at the gloves and apron quizzically, raising his eyebrows at his employer. “What are these for?”

Brady's bug eyes crossed in a condescending look. “Are you asking me that? Thought you were smart, boy. Thought you were a scholar.”

Jude still didn't move or say anything, waiting for the man to explain.

“I'm short on hands in the car wash. And today's extra busy. Go out and wash me some cars.”

Jude was already shaking his head. “No, Brady. You pay me to mind the counter and that's what I'm going to do. Just that and nothing else.”

Brady scoffed,his eyes firm, always seeking to take advantage. “Then you're fired. If you won't do what I say on a day I'm short on hands, then you're one selfish mother fucker. And don't expect me to pay you nothing for the month as you're leaving.”

Brady knew he had Jude. Jude needed all the money he could get and he couldn't lose any of his side jobs or else he couldn't keep up with his bills.

Jude swallowed. He would wash the cars. Just today. Just for today.

He needed his paycheck. Today was just the 20th of the month and if he didn't do as Brady said, he would really sack him.

He nodded with a defeated slump of his shoulders. “I'll wash cars just for today, Brady. Never again. You hired me as the cash register and that's the job I signed on for.”

Brady shrugged. “Suit yourself,” he said, leaving Jude to make his way to the back, to his office to go and smoke no doubt. The entire space always reeked of cigarettes when you went inside.

Jude was glaring after the man as he left, but he still pulled the apron strings around his neck in a fury. He tied them and yanked on the rubber gloves.

He walked outside into the hot air of the afternoon, grabbing a bucket and a rag and brush. He carried water and went to one of the cars parked and waiting to be washed.

He bent and started to scrub at the tires first. Just then water splashed all over him, cooling him, but also making him look like a wet cat.

The guy washing the car next to his had sprayed him accidentally with the water hose. The guy burst out laughing as if something was funny. Jude stared daggers at him.

“Sorry man,” the other guy chortled, before continuing to hose down the car.

Feeling the soapy water sticking to his skin, Jude stared down imat his ruined shirt and black pants. This was his favorite shirt. A milky white that had been pure white when his wife had gifted it to him.

Just then, Jude heard high laughter and giggling burst out behind him.

“Mr Steele, is that really you?”

Jude turned around. It was two students from his class.