Ashley & Milo

by Norman F. Hewes

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  Mark knew I was bringing his stepmother home this morning and he was out in front waiting to say hi and make sure I was really going to hire him. Before Jean was able to get out of the car, the front door opened and this provocatively dressed young girl, almost woman, came out. "Oh damn, Becky is out to show herself off. I'm not going to say what I think she is and she is just barely sixteen."

  "Have you talked to her?"

  "Ha, as if she would listen to me." Jean exited the car and went into the house. I got out and removed her bag from the back. Lindsey went running into the house with it.

  "Hi Mark, not working today?"

  "Nope, all caught up."

  "Well if you aren't doing anything, think about this? I don't have any work today either, but if you want to see what we are doing tomorrow, I have to order the material. I have a meeting with an architect in a little bit on a different job to go over some plans. Also before I bring you home, I can show you what we are going to be working on Monday. There is no pay in it, but you might be interested."

  "Sure, I'd like to see what is going on."

  "Marie, run in and get Lindsey and tell your Mom thank you for staying with you. Tell her Daddy appreciates it very much."

  The girls jabbered away at Mark all the way back. When we reached Ralph Peterson's house I sent the girls over to see Kim Grover to tell her that I thought I could start on her nursery on Monday next week. Also to ask if they could play there until I finished with Mr. Peterson.

  "Mr. Peterson, this is Mark Burgess. He is going to be helping me for awhile. I thought he would like to see what we are doing."

  "Fine, I was wondering who was going to help you. You are going to need more help than him though. This is more than a man and boy can do alone. Have you got a carpenter lined up?"

  "No, not yet. I'll worry about that later and I'm sure I can find someone before we are ready to start. Let's see the plans." I turned to Mark, "I'm pretty new at this construction business. I'm willing to learn and you might as well learn right along with me. Mr. Peterson is the onsite boss and is going to tell us how to put this project together."

  "I'm going to work your tail off. If my name is on this project, you bet it is going to be done right. Okay, this is the material list, right down to the finish nails you are going to need. What is going to take the longest time to get is the balustrade system of posts and rails. The two curved sections will ultimately be the most expensive components.

  "The columns we can build up out of standard lumber that will be strong enough to hold the porch and roof. I've indicated the window treatments and we can find standard ones most anywhere. All in all it will take about a month before construction starts.

  "You've got all that old furniture and stuff in the garages. Get rid of that. The rough timbers you can order and hold at Home Depot. The finish stuff should be stored where it is at hand and that would be right here on the premises. You are lucky to have Miss Nelson, I mean Mrs. Winslip, financing this. She said when the money was needed, it would be there.

  "I still have a few contacts and I will share with you, but you are the one that will be looking at the items you order for quality, etc. So get on it and get started. Of course you know you have to have permits and all that. You write up the application and I will review it for accuracy. A poorly written application has held up more than one job in my experience."

  Had I taken on a bigger job than I could handle with my inexperience? Peterson could tell from the way I looked I was concerned.

  "Hey, everyone has to start somewhere. This may be difficult and you will lose some sleep while thinking about it. The job is doable, mostly because it is a simple construction job, so hang in there and work at it. If you get into a bind, I'll find someone to get you out of it. There are still a few old friends of mine out there that would love to have a hand in this project of ours. It may be a simple job to me, complicated for you, but we'll get it done and the end result is going to be mighty impressive."