Chapter 13 13

Walking is the way to save her.Going for a walk was a valid reason to leave that house, and the fresh air blew away her stale teenage worries.She couldn't help but walk to the edge of town, avoiding the hot dog stand downtown.For those who like to meet friends, the hot dog stand is Hartley's hangout area.Sybylla wasn't that kind of person, and for a long time she didn't want to meet anyone she knew at school at night, seeing enough of them in school during the day. The Young Peoples Society for Motor Sports has an activity center in the suburbs. It is a simple two-story house with the first floor converted into a mechanical workshop.The distance from the town center of Hetley to the Athletic Association is enough to measure the humbleness of the membership of the Youth Motor Sports Association, but at least sometimes, the alienation seems to suit them.

He was sprawled over the engine of an old car with all the fancy paintwork and boosted horsepower, and if she hadn't happened to pass by, she probably would never have noticed him.She stopped about twenty meters away to admire the whole effect.The car was green pea, with bright tongues of flame flowing from below to the rear spoiler.She had never seen anything like it. She was going to hang around as if nothing had happened, but after a while he looked up and spoke to her. Pretty cool, right?He wiped his oily hands on the rag. She nodded. Chrysler's 1959 De Soto Firedome.I just repainted it to get it back to its original shape.

She didn't know how to react, and seemed to have nothing to say.Most of all, she was amazed that someone in Hartley could paint those flames so beautifully on the car. Want to go for a ride?Sit in and try it out?When she still didn't respond, he closed the hood of the car and waved to her.bring it on!take a look.The seats are leather! She moves closer.He was clearly desperate to show off his car, and his motives seemed very innocent.She'd never been in a car like that, and couldn't remember seeing him before.Judging by his appearance, he is much older than her. He threw away the oily rag, wiped his hands on the sides of his overalls, and opened the passenger door for her.She hesitated for only a few seconds before doing what he clearly wanted her to do.The upholstery of the seats in the car feels like an armchair.

It was a great car, an inline eight cylinder engine, 305 horsepower. great!She smiled at him cautiously. He walked around to the driver's side and opened the door. Can you get that blanket in the back seat? Sybylla found the checked brown blanket and handed it to him.He put the blanket on the seat before getting into the car. Let's go for a ride together, shall we?As he spoke, he turned the key. She stared at him. i'm not sure i should go home The engine hums.He pushed a button, and the window on her side slid down. Electric windows, do you want to try it? She pressed the button and the window closed smoothly.She looked at him again and saw his smiling face, two dimples appearing on his cheeks.

He shifted the car smoothly into gear and started, putting one arm behind her seat.Her heart was beating even harder now, because even though his gesture might just be practical, it felt very intimate.He looked back through the rear window and reversed into the middle of the road. How could she suddenly be in a suspicious-looking car?Sitting next to a total stranger?What if someone saw her? I'm going to drive you home.where do you live Sibylla swallowed. no, do not want.We'll just go for a ride.She answered immediately. They drove towards the center of town.Sybylla watched him secretly, his face was a little oily.My name is Mick and I don't shake hands unless you want your hands to get oily.

Sibylla. Of course, the daughter of the Folsenstroms.right!Yes or no? Yes. He was driving down Tull street and would soon pass the hot dog stand. Hey!listen!Does her voice sound great? great.Sybylla wasn't going to say that the car sounded as smooth as Gombrit's little Renault.The usual crowd gathered around the hot dog stand.Sybylla kept her head down. Those are your companions, right? She didn't answer at first, and he gave her a quick look. For example, they hang around outside your house.He laughed at his own joke. She didn't even smile.He noticed her reaction and became serious too.do not do that!I'm just kidding, don't worry about that.

She looked at him and realized that he was really just joking, not digging at her.The difference was obvious, so she smiled back at him. No, they are not my companions. During that first meeting, the two of them didn't say any more words. He drove her back to the Youth Motor Sports Association, and she thanked him for taking her for a drive.Not long after she got out of the car, he pulled the handle that released the hood.She walked a few steps, and when she turned around, he had already lowered his head, fiddling with the engine. A new sense of anticipation rose within her, the certainty that something good and important had happened.Whatever it was, it was important to her.

She couldn't have been more right. Of course, if the car hadn't been delivered that day, she wouldn't have known it, or if the paint job had taken an extra hour to get it done, Mick wouldn't have been out there tidying up that car, or if she'd gone for a walk Or if, if, if, then, if things didn't happen like this, then her life could be very different. That afternoon she came to an important fork in her life's path, which seemed insignificant at the time, but later she fully understood the consequences of taking this or that path.It took her a long time to understand why.

It was not until much later that she realized how wrong she had chosen that fateful afternoon.