The Ghost in the Machine

by Mary Woodbury

  “I don’t mind doing the grunt work. I like crawling around under cars.” There was a pleading tone in his voice, a tone Ty had never heard from either Ben or Doug. “I’d like to help.” And then as if he’d said too much he hopped off the table and climbed on his bike. “I’m sorry Dougie and I messed with your car, okay?” Ben stepped on the pedal and lit out, leaving his whispered words like dust motes in the air.

  Ty stood gawking after the skinny kid on the bicycle driving out of the lane and then waiting to turn onto the asphalt.

  “Tomorrow afternoon then!” Ty shouted.

  Wonders never cease.

  Ty took one look at the stupid car with its damp engine and hunched his shoulders. He put his hands in his pockets and headed out to the road. As if seeing a hunk of asphalt was going to help him figure out what to do next. Let alone what he was going to do with Haley and Ben.

  He couldn’t quit, after all. He stood beside the hedge and watched the traffic roll by, a line of cars behind a slow-moving RV. Two black leather-clad bikers sped by on motorcycles. Through the trees lining the road on the other side, he could spot his mother’s white summer dress moving down the trail. That answered one question. She’d gone up the mountain for her afternoon walk. She’d been up to Uncle Scott’s trailer.

  She waved to him and then sprinted across the road during a lull in the traffic, Leo racing ahead of her. Her face was flushed and her blue eyes were bright. “I had a great walk, Ty,” she said as she reached his side. “You look kind of weird. Has something happened? Where’s Haley?” Leo sat beside her, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth like a red rag.

  What should he tell her? He was so used to tailoring what he told her to protect her, he didn’t know any more. “Did Haley tell you about the car?”

  She nodded. “I saw it and smelled it, when I came outside. Grandpa was shouting so loud I could here him in the kitchen. I stayed indoors until he left. Sometimes I wish I had the nerve…”

  “His bark is worse than his bite,” said Ty softly. “I know that.” The two of them walked to the back door. “I try to ignore it.”

  “But sometimes it’s hard,” his mother sighed. “He’s getting worse if you ask me. He hates getting old. His arthritis hurts.”

  Ty nodded. “I lost it, Mom.”

  His mom reached up and gave him a quick hug. “You and Haley will fix it — the car, I mean. Nobody can fix old Grandpa Rod.”

  “Why’s he like that?”

  “It’s a long story. I don’t know all the details. The Beatons and the Grahams have always been fairly aggressive people. Grandpa Rod and Grandpa Beaton were both in love with your grandmother when they were young.” Grace sliced carrots and put them on the stove.

  “I can’t imagine them being young.”

  “Ask your dad when he comes home this weekend. He knows more about it then I do.”

  Ty sat at the kitchen table nursing a tall glass of water as his mother puttered around putting supper together. His dad was on the road and his sister was over at Grandma’s. There was just his mom and him. “You’d never guess who pulled into the yard this afternoon.”

  “Who?”

  “Ben Beaton. He wants to help with the car.”

  “I thought he might show up. I was talking to Lynette at the health food store in Benton. She said he was thinking about coming over. Ben was pretty nervous about it. He was afraid you’d tell him to take off. Sounds as if you and Doug have had some trouble in the past.”

  “That’s putting it mildly. Those boys are mean.” He didn’t want to tell her about being Tubby Tyler or the Graham Cracker. He got up and opened the cupboard under the sink. He found the silver dip and took it back to the table, pulled off the ring, and dropped it in the little basket. His mom was still talking.

  “Your dad says his mother was going with old man Beaton when Grandpa Graham broke up the romance. He told your grandma she was wasting herself on a good-for-nothing. I can just imagine him doing it too. Grandpa Graham and old man Beaton had a knock-down fight out in front of the Cedar bar. Since then the Grahams and the Beatons have never gotten along.”

  “That explains a lot, Ma.” No wonder Grandpa was so protective of Grandma. “Trust the Grahams and Beatons to make a federal case out of it.”

  “Lynette and I were close buddies in high school, even if old man Beaton didn’t care much for the Armstrongs either. Said we were stuck-up. That was because we had good silver and took piano lessons.

  “We figured what the old guys didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. She and Scott and your dad, Lyle, and I used to hang out together. Lynette liked to dance and had good taste in music. She could draw too.”

  “So you think I should give Ben a chance?” Ty grabbed some dog food and threw it in the old washbasin for Leo and refilled his water bowl. The dog dumped his whole snout in, slurped, and then flung the drips around like an April shower.

  “I think hanging out with you and Haley would be good for him. He’s got potential. Hasn’t had much of a chance. With Doug gone he could gain a different perspective. He’s got good stuff in him, I know that. I know it would make Lynette happy.”

  Ty lifted the basket out of the jewellery wash and held the ring up to the light. It sparkled. He squinted his eyes and stared on the inside. SA & LR or was it LF. There was a scratch running through the last letter that made it illegible.

  Ty rubbed his chin. There was something going on here that he couldn’t fathom. It was more complex than the wiring on the old car. He put the silver dip back under the sink and set the table.

  “What about Haley? His mother asked. “Where’d she disappear to?”

  Ty dug in the cupboard for Veronica’s favourite Mickey Mouse mug. “I left her on her own. I need to call her.”

  “But you’re scared.”

  Ty nodded. “I’ll feel better if I do though.” He picked up the phone and dialled Nixon’s. His heart pounded.

  “Hello.” It was Haley’s voice.

  “Can I come over after supper? I want to apologize…”

  There was a pause. Was she going to talk to him? Ty panicked. “I shouldn’t have disappeared like that.”

  “I thought we were best friends.”

  “We are. It was just….”

  “I know. Your grandpa is quite the curmudgeon. That’s what my mom calls her dad in Barbados, a curmudgeon,” Haley laughed. “How’s the car?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll check it over before I come to see you if that’s alright.”

  “Sounds good. See you later.” Haley hung up.

  Ty put the phone back in its cradle and joined his mother at the table. Veronica came racing in the back door. “What’s for supper?

  “Chicken and mashed potatoes and cooked carrots,” said Mom.

  Ty put a small portion on both Mom and Veronica’s plates and then heaped his own. Life had calmed down. He liked that.

  Chapter 16

  After supper Ty went out to the yard and walked around Princess. The car had completely cooled down, so he bent over the engine and stared at the damage done by the fire. Thank goodness there didn’t seem to be much.

  He heard a truck turning in. It didn’t sound like Robin Nixon’s or his dad’s so he was puzzled. Ralph Ferris appeared in the panel truck from his shop.

  “Thought it was time I made a house call. This is the patient, is it?” Ralph clambered out of the van. He had bowlegs like all the Ferrises. Looked like he’d been riding horses all his life. But the Ferris family didn’t like animals.

  Ty’s mother came out on the porch. “Hi, Ralph, how’s it going?” She sounded so chipper that Ty stared at her. “What do you think of young Tyler Graham, eh? He’s done a great job on the car.”

  Ralph nodded as he walked around the Volkswagen and ran his hand along the roof edge. “Got it running yet?”

  “We did. This afternoon,” said Ty. “But then a fire started. I don’t know what the problem is.”

  Just then Grandpa�
�s truck came rattling down the interior road with a load in the box. He was shouting above the sound of the rough engine of his ’95 Ranger. “Wait ’til you see what I got, you poor excuse for a mechanical genius.”

  Sticking up in the back of the truck was a couple of metal ramps with supports.

  “Ida and I went to the farm auction over by the ferry landing, and look what I found for ten bucks.” He hopped down off the truck like an old cougar cat. “Hi, Ralph, how are your folks?”

  “Fine, thanks, Mr. Graham.”

  “What do you think of this boy here, trying his teeth on an old wreck like this. Had us worried he’d drop the goldurned thing on his head or foot. Started a fire this afternoon in it. Enough with the neighbouring valley going up in smoke, don’t need it happening here.” All the time he was talking he was opening the tail of the truck and hauling out the ramps. Ty ran to help.

  “Didn’t believe he’d do it. Stubborn as a mule. Don’t know who he takes after. Us Grahams are kind of easy-going.” He grinned like he knew that was a joke.

  Ralph laughed and Ty didn’t know whether to or not.

  “I’d appreciate if you’d help him along, Ralph. I don’t know nothing about these here little cars. They’re like sewing machines on wheels.” Grandpa Graham banged the tailgate of his truck and climbed into the cab. He roared out of the laneway like he was chasing a fire engine.

  Ty stood for a moment with his hands on his hips, shaking his head. Silly old coot. One moment you were told you were the stupidest kid in history, and the next your grandpa was buying a pair of ramps for your pet project to keep you safe. Go figure? Ty looked over at his mother. They exchanged a look of amazement.

  Ty shrugged his shoulders and kicked the ramp with the toe of his work boot. He couldn’t quite forgive the old guy yet.

  Ralph and Ty rolled the car up onto the new ramps in the garage. Ralph took Lyle Graham’s work light and shone it on the mess around the engine. Ty stood beside him. Ralph handed him the light and carried on staring, pulling at loose connections.

  Ty’s mom went in doors. She came out in a couple of minutes with tall glasses of cola and ice.

  “It looks like there was a cracked fuel hose leaking gas onto the distributor, Ty,” Ralph said. He took a rag from his pocket and cleaned off the grime and soot. “I’ll get some fuel line from the van, put new clamps on the ends, and install it. It’s a good thing you weren’t out on the highway.” He strolled over to the van and disappeared inside. He soon emerged.

  While Ty held the light Ralph went to work on the burnt wires. Ty had opened his book on Volkswagen repairs on the picnic table. Ralph kept checking the diagrams. As his fingers danced around the wires, he explained to Ty what he was fixing.

  “This ought to make Scott sleep easier in his grave,” said Ralph. “Strange he got killed coming onto the highway from the Forest Road. It’s usually not that busy at night. Of course there were rumours about that accident. He ran into the tree on the far side. You can still see the gash if you look careful-like.”

  “I thought he was killed going into the hospital to see my mom and sister.”

  “Oh-oh,” Ralph said. “I guess you were too young to be told all the details. Your folks had their reasons.”

  Ty nodded. It seemed to him that kids missed a lot that went on around them. But he had always known that the day his sister had been born and his uncle had died had changed everything. Rescuing the Princess was going a long way towards bringing life back to some semblance of order. He felt good about that. But there were other details that needed to be resolved. There was a crack in the hose. Anyone could have missed it.

  “What do you think happened to Scott?” he asked.

  “I don’t know, Ty. You should ask your family.” Ralph focused the light. He adjusted the points and put the distributor cap back on.

  Ralph wasn’t going to tell him anything more, Ty knew.

  “Get in and try it.” Ralph wiped his hands on a rag. He took the work light from Ty and held it above the wires and tubes. “I’ll watch just to make sure she doesn’t blow up again.”

  Ty slid into the driver’s seat. He put the seat back a couple of notches. His longer legs needed more space. They ached from all the swimming, running, and cycling he and Haley had been doing. He turned the key in the ignition and listened as the car purred into action.

  “Rev her up,” said Ralph.

  He pushed the clutch pedal down, tapped the accelerator, and released the hand brake. Vroom, Vroom. He put the car into reverse and gently lifted his foot off the clutch pedal. The yard filled with exhaust but no smoke or flames.

  “Okay, let’s go.” Ralph banged the hatch lid. “Let’s take your Princess for a spin.”

  “I can’t drive on the highway yet.”

  “I’ll drive,” said Ralph. He had to put the seat up a couple of notches. “You’re a long-legged fellow like your dad. Where’s he at these days?”

  “Fighting fires over near Cranbrook.” Ty banged the passenger door shut.

  Ralph drove to the end of the lane and turned onto the highway towards Benton. “Poor girl hasn’t had a good run for years. Let’s open her up.” He stepped on the gas. “There’s something wonderful about rescuing old cars. It makes a guy feel great. You’ve done a good job, Ty.”

  Ty sat up straighter in the passenger seat.

  Up ahead the Nixon place snuggled close to the road. Ty had often wondered how come nobody had driven into the living room it was so close to the highway. “Let’s stop and pick up Haley. She should come. She did half of the work.”

  As the car pulled into the lane, Ty could see Haley and her aunt strolling slowly in the garden. Robin was leaning on her cane. Their heads leaned together as if they were sharing secrets. They looked up and smiled. Haley ran over and stood, hands on her hips, surveying Ralph, Ty, and the car.

  “You had me worried this afternoon,” she said. “Hi, Ralph. Where are you going?”

  Ty got out of the car and pushed the seat forward. “Your chariot awaits, mademoiselle.”

  “I figure we’ll go into Benton to the Burger Barn,” said Ralph. “Celebrate.”

  “I have to check with Robin, first,” Haley said. Then she touched Ty’s arm. “I talked to my mom and dad. They’re coming in a couple of weeks. I told them how sick she was. She thinks they’re coming to see me.”

  Robin headed their way through the zucchini patch, picking up squash as she came. “Going for a ride, Haley? Don’t be late.” She handed three perfect zucchini through the window to Ralph. “Take it easy on the highway.” Then she turned to Ty.

  “You and Haley have done a fine job on the inner workings of the car. The tough half is finished. Now you have the body to work on.” She stood tall and leaning on her birch cane. “That’s quite a metaphor, don’t you think? Princess and I have a lot in common. My heart and mind are in good shape, it’s my body that has given out.”

  “Do you want anything from the store?” asked Haley. “We can stop there, can’t we?”

  Ty and Ralph nodded.

  “If they have any loaves of Sage Willow’s sourdough bread, I’d like one. We need butter too.” Robin stepped back from the car and waved as the car left the lane.

  Ralph concentrated on driving. Ty watched him. He seemed to be checking the sounds coming from the engine and the tires. He held the steering wheel tenderly and his feet on the pedals were firm. “You might need to tighten the front wheel bearings,” Ralph said. “They have too much play in them. And we should check the brakes more closely. Probably need adjusting, especially the left side.”

  Ty nodded in agreement. He was in the car. It worked. The rest would come.

  “I was afraid you were going to give up this afternoon. You disappeared. What happened?” Haley leaned over the seat. The smell of her shampoo lingered in her tightly curled hair.

  Ty shrugged his shoulders and scanned the road ahead for wildlife. “I had a few things to work out. I was mad at the car,
myself, and my grandpa, okay?” He paused, “I was mad at myself most of all.”

  “I can understand that.” Haley patted his shoulder. “ I was afraid it was something I did.”

  Ty shook his head. “No, it wasn’t you. It was just me. I couldn’t explain.”

  “Okay.”

  Up ahead at the gas station and general store a gang of kids stood around the parking area, eating chips and drinking cola. Two were kicking a haki sack. Ben came over to the car as they pulled up to the gas pump. “You got it going. Hi, Ralph, what’s new?”

  The kids surged around the car like bees at honey. “Hey, Tyler, man. How’d you manage it? It’s a beaut for a little car. Where you going? When do we get a ride in it? You could park it in the back of my pickup anytime. It’s no more trouble than a ride-on mower, right?”

  Ty got out of the car and stood beside it, soaking in the compliments, and the snide comments. He opened the gas cap and started filling the tank.

  Haley headed into the store to get the supplies for her aunt. Ralph strolled over to talk to a couple of older guys tinkering with a truck engine.

  “Where you going, Ty?” Ben asked wistfully.

  “Ralph’s giving her a good work out, so we’re heading into Benton to the Burger Barn.” Then he surprised himself. “Want to come along for the ride?”

  Ben grinned. Ty didn’t remember the Beaton boys ever smiling much.

  After Princess was tanked up and Haley had come back with a plastic bag of groceries, the four climbed in the car. Ty clambered in back with Haley. “You sit in front, Ben. I want to try out the back and see how she rides.”

  “Right,” Ben nodded at the two of them in the back seat and chuckled. “Far be it for me to break up the romance.”

  “You’ll have to scrunch up, you long-legged galoot, you.” Haley laughed. “For your birthday, maybe your parents could buy you an outfit that fit you.”

  Ty blushed. “Mom said the same thing. She’s taking me in to the Saan store and the Auto Club on Tuesday. I’ll be able to drive home.”