Dust

Noah placed Logan, into the passenger seat and buckled him in. He shut the door and returned into his friend’s house to grab a few last things. Logan’s mother was in her son’s room, going through some of his photos, “are you two ready to head on out?”
“Just about Mrs. Laux, I just wanted to make sure that I didn’t forget anything.” He said as he went into Logan’s dresser to grab one of Logan’s favorite CD’s.
“You know,” she got up from her son’s bed. “You know, he thought of you as a brother, even he was going to Pennsylvania for college.” she was standing in front of Noah now, a tear streamed down the side of her face, he hated seeing her like this.
“I know.” He started to walk away.
“You know, you’ll always have a place here, Noah. If where your going doesn’t wo...” she trailed off as Noah passed through the door way. Outside, he took a look back at Logan’s window. Mrs. Laux was up there looking out. At what, he did not know. She looked down to him, and he waved good-bye and got into the car and pulled out of the driveway.
He looked over at Logan, “Well man, it’s time we get this moving along.” He put in the CD that he got from his friends room. “This last year has been fun.”
* * * * * * * * * *
The skeletons of old cars were piled on either side of the path, most of them had parts falling off at the slightest touch. Others were almost brand new, but wrecked, never to have tires run across the paved road again. But the two friends had heard of a great find from the junkyard dealer just get it out of here, and they could have it. Logan climbed up on a pile of old cars.
“Hey, Noah,” he said. “I think that old fuck was lying to us. There are no good cars here that we can fix up; even if we search all night I doubt we’ll find it.” He jumped down from the third car in the stack, shaking off years of dirt, and causing the pile to sway ever so slightly, but it was enough to get on Noah’s nerves.
“One of these days, Logan, you’re going to break your neck doing something stupid like that. I just hope I’m there to laugh my ass off.”
Logan just shrugged, like it wouldn’t bother him one way or the other if something did happen. “Well, man, as long as I have a good time, then I say fuck Death. I’ll go smiling each step of the way.”
Noah just laughed at his friend. “Yeah, but then what? You’ll be stuck in a plot not going anywhere. And, aren’t you the one talking about going to the east coast for college.”
“There is room for you too to come, you know that.”
“I’ve already got a Job here, as long as I get a girl, I’ll be fine.” He knew he would be fine. It’s what he has known for all of his life, and it would be good for the rest of it too.
“Noah, we both know that you won’t be fine. You might like it here. But what have you really seen?” Noah knew that Logan’s mother loved to move, and somehow ended up in this town.
“You know that not everyone is born with Gypsy blood running through their veins, causing them to move every other year.” He knew that that would get on Logan’s nerves. It was one of the few things that ever could.
“Shut up. At least I know what I want to do after this year.” Logan has been trying to talk Noah to putting out more college applications than just the local community college.
“Like I said man, I’ll be fine here. I don’t need to go to a big city, with its big college.” They walked on a little farther. Until they came around a corner and found what they were out there looking for. Noah went up to examine the car. “Isn’t she a beauty?”
Logan’s eyebrows arched. “If you mean a hunk of junk, with a real need to be shot and put out of its misery, then yeah, it’s a beauty.”
“Just you wait, Logan. You’ll want it for yourself once we get it fixed up.” Noah went to open the door, just to have it pull off of the frame. “Okay, maybe it’s a long shot, but you know what they say about the old stuff.”
“Yeah yeah yeah,” Logan let out a sigh and mimicked Noah, “They don’t make them like they used too.”
“Glad you see it my way, now let me see your cell, I need to let Tom know that I want it.” Logan pulled his phone out and tossed it to him.
* * * * * * * * * *
The cool wind ran across Noah’s face, bringing with it the foul smell of gasoline, snapping him out of his daydream, as he leaned up against the car that he and Logan fetched out of that junkyard just under a year ago. The nozzle clicked letting him know that the tank was full, ready for their trip. Waiting for the pump to spit out his receipt, he thought of what they went through that year, and where they were heading next. It wouldn’t have been possible without this car, and their determination to fix it. He climbed into the driver seat. “Well, Logan, it’s time for us to hit the road.” He checked his watch “The sunrise is in about eight hours, we should be good on time.”
Within a few minutes, he was on the highway heading east. He was never the one with the plan that was always Logan. Logan was always talking about heading out to college somewhere on the east coast. He just did what he was told, not really worrying about life after high school. Thinking of this brought back more memories of Logan and this car. “Remember what you said when I got this baby into my garage for the first time man?” He paused, waiting for a response that would not come. He started to think about the day that Frank dropped off the car.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Thanks, Frank. Tell Tom that I owe him.” Noah waved bye to the tow-truck driver and went to check out the car now sitting in the garage. What have I got myself into, he thought. Part of the metal bumper was completely smashed in, the original paint job was completely over run by rust, and the door he ripped off was lying in the back seat. He was about to pop the hood when Logan came in holding two bottles of water.
“Your mom just told me that the car was dropped off.” Logan tossed Noah one of the bottles.
“Thanks man.” He untwisted the top and took a drink of the cool water. “I needed this.”
“Well, do you think we can fix up that rust bucket?” Logan opened his own bottle, and sit on the workbench.
“She is not a rust bucket.” he looked back at the car. “Well, okay, maybe she is a little dirty, but come on, man, this isn’t just any old rust bucket. She’s a ‘69 Chevy Impala. Most popular color was gold, and when we fix her up, it‘ll become a bitch magnet
“And you chastise me for fooling around to attract girls and here you go are getting a hunk of junk and expect girls not to laugh. Logan walked over to Noah. “Don’t worry man, once I get a girlfriend, I’ll hood you up with one of her friends.”
Noah laughed. “With the way you act, do you really expect to get a girl?”
“And just what is wrong with the way I act?”
“You act like an idiot, and you’re one of the smartest people I know.”
Noah watched as Logan shrugged. “That’s why I’m going to college on the east coast. And you know I do this because people are too serious.” Noah didn’t see himself as one of those serious people. “But, it brings entertainment to my life, and those around me, including you.” It was true. Noah counted on Logan’s foolishness to wake him up from this life of boredom.
“I don’t know if this town would be the same once you’re gone. It would go back to the same old boring don’t it was before you got here.”
“Then why don’t you apply at the college too? I am sure you would get in.”
“Yeah, we’ll see. But, I bet you girls would love this car once they see it. I wonder how many I would have to turn down for a ride.”
“That might be true, but first things first.” Logan turned to the car. “We need to see what’s wrong with this ‘bitch magnet’ and hopefully it’s something not too severe.” Noah opened the hood and they started to make a list of components they needed.
* * * * * * * * * *
The dashes lines of yellow were and occasional lights from cars heading west almost all that Noah has saw, and Logan what silent in the passenger’s seat. The only thing keeping Noah alert was the familiar hum of the engine. Each mile they traveled down the road, took them that much further from their home. “Look at this Logan,” Noah glanced over towards Logan. “Here we are, driving this ‘rust bucket’ that you thought we would never get fixed.” Logan remained silent, but Noah didn’t expect an answer. “But, I do have to give it to you. You were right about the Girls.” Noah started to think back to the first time they took the car out onto the road.
* * * * * * * * * *
It took them a few months, but everything was in place, and Noah was ready to see his baby get some lover from the sun outside. “Get your ass moving, Logan,” He shouted out of the window. “I want to get this on the road sometime this year.”
“Just shut up.” Logan was taking another look around the car. “I don’t want to get halfway down the road and have this rust bucket break down on us.” Logan was around the back of the car, out of Noah’s view. “So, have you got those papers I gave you filled out yet?”
“You mean the ones for the college that you are going to?”
“Yeah.”
“I haven’t had time too yet. With work and the car, I don’t know if I will be going out of state.” Noah didn’t know about going out of state anyways. Everyone he knew and all he needed was there. “Can you just hurry up, I want to get on the road sometimes this year.”
“I don’t want to get halfway down the road and have this rust bucket break down on us.” Noah could not help but smile.
“If it does break down, I’m sure it won’t be that long of a trip back.” Noah let out a sigh. “Would you hurry up, you’ve been circling the car like a vulture.” It’s been like 30 minutes that Noah has been waiting, and he even checked everything himself to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. “If you don’t hurry up, I’m just going to go on without you.” He put the key into the newly installed ignition. “The key is in, and ready to go.”
“Alright, alright.” Logan got up from the side of the Impala and climbed into the passenger’s seat. “Just don’t blame me if we don’t make it to the corner.”
Noah smiled at Logan. “What’s wrong, is Mr. Badass Jester worried that chicks will love this car?” Logan extended his middle finger. “Watch it now, the little birdie might not like all the attention we will be getting from the girls and try to fly away.” For the next few moments, they were quiet, while Noah listened to the rumbling of the engine for any rattles of forgotten parts.
After a few miles of silence, Logan turned on the radio. “Well, it’s not falling apart yet, but we need to get a CD player installed, then I would say this rust bucket is reborn as a cool car.”
“What, and take away the nostalgic feel associated with it?” Noah could not believe his ears, replace the tape player.
“Nostalgic, what’s so nostalgic about it? Do you even know how hard it is to find tapes to play in it?”
Noah was at a loss for words. “Well, I honestly don’t know if this car can handle one of those newer CD players. They might draw too much amps and mess with the fuses.”
“Noah, do you honestly believe that I would believe that bullshit. I upgraded the wiring in this ting myself.” Noah thought back to the frustration of wiring. “If you wanted to, you could hook up a TV and a DVD player, so I am sure that it can handle a simple CD player.”
They pulled up to a stoplight just as it turned red. “I’ll have to think about it, there is still a few more things we need to do to this baby.”
“You also have to fill out those papers I gave you.”
As they talked about other things they needed to do, two girls pulled up in a dark blue convertible. The passenger got her friend’s attention and pointed to the car, they burst out laughing. “Nice car you got there. Is it held together with superglue?” The light turned green and the girls sped away leaving Noah and Logan with faces burning red hot.
Logan straightened up. “Well, okay man… we need to get this bitch painted and looking fine.”
“Yeah, I think that takes priority over a new radio.”
* * * * * * * * * *
Noah had to turn on the radio. The silence of the road was making him tired. “Man, Logan, driving you ass is putting me to sleep.” He took the next exit that had a gas station so that he could get a something to wake him up. Getting ready to get back into the car, a woman pulled up in a green Kia. “Nice car you got there. Don’t see too many of them driving out here.
“Thanks. I fixed it up with help from a friend of mine.”
She came around to the front of the Impala, Nice paint job you got on it. What is it called?” Noah thought back to the time Logan came into his room and tossed down the magazine with the color.
“Golden Red, my friend picked it out.”
“Cool, I wish I got my Kia in a different color myself. Mind if I steal your paint job?” that made Noah chuckle.
“My friend would be honored.” Noah thought back to the first time they took it out after the pain job was complete.
* * * * * * * * * *
It took them a few weeks, but the paint job was done. So to celebrate, they went to the local Sonic. Noah had just enough time to eat and drop Logan off before he had to run to his uncles’. “Well man, what did I say?” Logan got up and stretched. “The color is perfect for this car.”
“Well, I guess when the Jester is not busy cracking jokes he knows what he is talking about.” Noah just noticed two girls walking up, and pointed them out to Logan.
The girls took a look around the car. “Nice ride you got there.” The taller of the two said she caressed the shinny curves of the Impala. “Where’d ya get it?” Noah was almost at a loss for words.
Logan pointed to Noah. “Noah here fixed it up.” As always, Logan came to the rescue. “You should have seen it before.” He continued with the details of the Impala’s rebirth.
The shorter of the two came to Noah. “That’s cool. You must be a wiz at fixing things.”
“I don’t know if I could have got it done without Logan here.” he pointed towards his friend. “He did most of the wiring.”
“You’ll have to give us a ride in it.” The taller of the two spoke up again. “My name is Tammie.” She gestured to the other girl. “This is Pam. We are going to a party on the east side, will we be seeing you two there?”
“I would love to, but I can’t.” Noah had to repay his uncle for the fine paint job that he did on the Impala. “But Logan is free to go, if he has a way to get there.” Logan looked over at Noah.
“That sounds cool.” Pam got a pen out of her pocket, and wrote her number on Noah’s hand. “Call me when that ride is available.”
“We are in the black Dodge over there.” Tammie pointed it out so Logan could see. Logan hung back while they walked away.
“Well, Logan, what did I tell you? They love it, don’t they?” Noah was looking at his hand.
Logan threw up his hands. “You got me man, you know your cars.” He hopped off of the car. “Now, while the charm of your car is still with me, I’m going to have some fun.”
“Talk to you later, and don’t have too much fun.”
Logan started to walk away, then suddenly turned around. “Oh, tell your uncle that he did a kick ass job on your car.” Logan started to walk backwards a few steps. “And, I owe you for this one.”
“Consider this a down payment for what I already owe you.” Noah said and got into the Impala. He waved good bye to Logan.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Wake up, Noah, Wake Up!” Logan’s frantic voice jolted Noah awake. Just in time, he was heading off the road. He slammed his foot down on the beak, causing the car to screech to a hold just shy sheer edge of the road.
“Fuck, that was too close.” He looked over at Logan. “Yet again, I owe you more than you know.” Once his nerves calmed down, he started to drive again.
* * * * * * * * * *
Noah walked into his house and tossed his jacket onto the sofa and went to see if he had any messages on the answering machine. He noticed a package sitting right behind it, and one message flashing on the machine. He grabbed the package to see what it said, the first line of the letter read, ‘Congratulations on your acceptance to. . .’ That fucker, he though, he went without my permission and filled it out. He press play on the machine and walked into the kitchen.
“Hello, Noah, it’s Beth.” Logan’s mother went quiet for a moment as he peaked around the corner looking at the black box. “Logan was in a car accident earlier.” He dropped the packet and grabbed his jacket off the sofa. “He was rushed to the hospital.” Forgetting about the anger he felt about the application as he exited the door. “The doctors don’t know. . .” was the last thing he heard before the door closed.
* * * * * * * * * *
Noah pulled the car to a stop about fifteen feet from the edge of the cliff. He got out and went around to Logan’s Door, to help him out. “Well, friend, we are finally here.” He walked them to the edge of the cliff. And they stood, together. Looking out as the sun broke the horizon, shooting rays of gold, red and yellow across the waters of the ocean. “It has been a crazy journey, and I owe you my life.” Noah hugged Logan one last time. “But now, it’s time to say good bye.” He took off the lid to Logan’s urn, and tipped it over. Letting the winds pick him up and carry him in their gentle breeze and scattering him over the waters into the rising sun.
Noah stood there, staring out at the sun for what seemed like an eternity. Thinking back to the last joke Logan played on him, he smiled. “I wonder how this college will be with out you man.” He got back into the car and started to head north.