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that‘ll work fine. Can‘t do it this Sunday, but…
    wanta get started next weekend?‖
    Logan gladly agreed. He had nothing better to do with his
    Sundays and felt an almost giddy eagerness to work on that car. No
    more was said about their plan since Norah‘s car was heard pulling up
    the driveway.
    With growing confidence, Logan capably executed his plan for
    the second class—showing the women how to examine the brake pads
    and the air filter and how to check the fluid levels. All three pupils were
    earnest in their efforts, but Tish was picking things up much quicker
    than the other two, so much so that Logan asked if she‘d had any
    experience with auto repair.
    ―Not unless you count my brother Butch teaching me how to
    hotwire a car.‖ She immediately launched into a detailed and accurate
    description of the process.
    Logan cut her off with the reproach, ―That ain‘t gonna do you
    much good for keepin‘ your car runnin‘.‖
    48
    Felicia Watson

    ―Yeah, that‘s what Nick said when he talked me into this. He
    went on about how I‘d never really be independent ‘til I could take care
    of my own car.‖
    Norah wiped the grease off her hands, saying, ―He said I‘d save a
    bunch of money and no mechanic could take advantage of me.‖ She
    turned to Logan saying, ―Umm… no offense.‖
    Shrugging, Logan said, ―None taken; there‘s that kind out there
    for sure.‖ He was more surprised to learn that he wasn‘t the only
    reluctant participant in this class. He glanced over at Nick intently
    typing away in the corner and wondered at the effort he‘d expended
    just to put together this one module.
    ―How ‘bout you?‖ Norah‘s question was directed at Cheryl, who
    was gingerly replacing the dipstick. Her sweet smile appeared briefly as
    she answered, ―Same as both of you. I was kinda scared it‘d be too
    hard.‖ Warming to the subject, she added with a blush, ―But Nick said
    he knew I could do it.‖
    ―Oh,‖ Norah laughed. ―He pulled the charm card on you.‖
    When Cheryl‘s blush only deepened, Tish joined the fray.
    ―Another one crushin‘ on Nick. Get in line, honey. If that man weren‘t
    gay, he‘d get more pussy than—‖
    Logan missed the rest of Tish‘s salty observation under the roar
    of blood rushing past his ears. Involuntarily, his head snapped over in
    Nick‘s direction, and he stared in consternation at the oblivious man.
    What the fuck? He’s… that way? And letting everyone know—letting
    these girls blab it all over creation? What the hell is wrong with him?
    Called back to reality by Norah asking if she should be the one to
    top off the car‘s oil, Logan wrenched his attention back to his students.
    With monumental effort, he taught the rest of the class with a
    reasonable show of composure.
    Norah had volunteered to take the other women back to ACC,
    leaving Logan and Nick alone to clean up. Logan barely heard Nick
    talking about what they should do to get started on the car, as he was
    wondering if he should broach the subject of Tish‘s bombshell. Finally,
    as they were leaving, he cleared his throat and ventured, ―That girl,
    Tish, she was saying….‖ The words died in his throat, so he cleared

    Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela
    49

    them out and tried again. ―She said right out in the open that you‘re….‖
    His eyes darted back and forth between the open door and Nick‘s face.
    Nick‘s frown seemed to indicate he had an inkling of the subject
    matter; his belligerent tone was confirmation. ―That I‘m what? Gay?
    So?‖
    Logan squinted at him and forced out, ―You should be more
    careful ‘bout that.‖
    ―Careful?‖ A quick step by Nick bridged half the distance
    between them. ―Are you threatening me?‖
    ―Threatening? No! Fuck, I‘m just saying…. A fella can get….
    Some folks out there would hurt a guy bad. Even just thinkin’ he was…
    like you.‖ Logan closed his eyes briefly to find, burning there, an