Skeleton Crew

"I gotta get a sticker on my wheels," Rocky said. "This is important. A man's no good without his wheels."

"Nobody in his right mind is gonna inspect this—I told you that. It ain't got no turn signals."

"They blink if I step on the brake at the same time, and anybody who don't step on his brakes when he's makin a turn is lookin to do a rollover."

"Window on this side's cracked."

"I'll roll it down."

"What if the inspectionist asks you to roll it up so he can check it?"

"I'll burn that bridge when I come to it," Rocky said coolly. He tossed his beer can out and got a refill. This new one had Franco Harris on it. Apparently the Iron City company was playing the Steelers' Greatest Hits this summer. He popped the top. Beer splurted.

"Wish I had a woman," Leo said, looking into the dark. He smiled strangely.

"If you had a woman, you'd never get out west. What a woman does is keep a man from getting any further west. That's how they operate. That is their mission. Dint you tell me you wanted to go out west?"

"Yeah, and I'm going, too."

"You'll never go," Rocky said. "Pretty soon you'll have a woman. Next you'll have abalone. Alimony. You know. Women always lead up to alimony. Cars are better. Stick to cars."

"Pretty hard to screw a car."

"You'd be surprised," Rocky said, and giggled.

The woods had begun to straggle away into new dwellings. Lights twinkled up on the left and Rocky suddenly slammed on the brakes. The brake lights and turn signals both went on at once; it was a home wiring job.

Leo lurched forward, spilling beer on the seat. "What? What?"

"Look," Rocky said. "I think I know that fella." There was a tumorous, ramshackle garage and Citgo filling station on the left side of the road. The sign in front said: BOB'S GAS & SERVICE BOB DRISCOLL, PROP.

FRONT END ALIGNMENT OUR SPECIALTY DEFEND YOUR GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS!

And, at the very bottom: STATE INSPECTION STATION #72

"Nobody in his right mind—" Leo began again.

"It's Bobby Driscoll!" Rocky cried. "Me an Bobby Driscoll went to school together! We got it knocked! Bet your fur!" He pulled in unevenly, headlights illuminating the open door of the garage bay. He popped the clutch and roared toward it. A stoop-shouldered man in a green coverall ran out, making frantic stopping gestures.

"ThassBob!" Rocky yelled exultantly. "Heyyy, StiffSocks!" They ran into the side of the garage. The Chrysler had another seizure, grand mat this time. A small yellow flame appeared at the end of the sagging tailpipe, followed by a puff of blue smoke. The car stalled gratefully. Leo lurched forward, spilling more beer. Rocky keyed the engine and backed off for another try.

Bob Driscoll ran over, profanity spilling out of his mouth in colorful streamers. He was waving his arms. " - - the hell you think you're doing, you goddam sonofa—"

"Bobby!" Rocky yelled, his delight nearly orgasmic. "Hey Stiff Socks! Whatchoo say, buddy?" Bob peered in through Rocky's window. He had a twisted, tired face that was mostly hidden in the shadow thrown by the bill of his cap. "Who called me Stiff Socks?"

"Me!" Rocky fairly screamed. "It's me, you ole finger-diddler! It's your old buddy!"

"Who in the hell—"

"Johnny Rockwell! You gone blind as well as foolish?" Cautiously: "Rocky?"

"Yeah, you sombitch!"

"Christ Jesus." Slow, unwilling pleasure seeped across Bob's face. "I ain't seen you since... well... since the Catamounts game, anyway—"

"Shoosh! Wa'n't that some hot ticket?" Rocky slapped his thigh, sending up a gusher of Iron City. Leo burped.

"Sure it was. Only time we ever won our class. Even then we couldn't seem to win the championship. Say, you beat hell out of the side of my garage, Rocky. You—"

"Yeah, same ole Stiff Socks. Same old guy. You ain't changed even a hair." Rocky belatedly peeked as far under the visor of the baseball cap as he could see, hoping this was true. It appeared, however, that ole Stiff Socks had gone either partially or completely bald. "Jesus! Ain't it somethin, runnin into you like this! Did you finally marry Marcy Drew?"

"Hell, yeah. Back in '70. Where were you?"

"Jail, most probably. Lissen, muhfuh, can you inspect this baby?" Caution again: "You mean your car?" Rocky cackled. "No—my ole hogleg! Sure, my car! Canya?" Bob opened his mouth to say no.

"This here's an old friend of mine. Leo Edwards. Leo, wantcha to meet the only basketball player from Crescent High who dint change his sweatsocks for four years."

"Pleesdameetcha," Leo said, doing his duty just as his mother had instructed on one of the occasions when that lady was sober.

Rocky cackled. "Want a beer, Stiffy?" Bob opened his mouth to say no.

"Here's the little crab-catcher!" Rocky exclaimed. He popped the top. The beer, crazied up by the headlong run into the side of Bob Driscoll's garage, boiled over the top and down Rocky's wrist. Rocky shoved it into Bob's hand. Bob sipped quickly, to keep his own hand from being flooded.