Who Killed Galileo?
Cap’t. Ned was leaned up against the new gold fleck paint job of Willy’s restored 1965 Mustang, I guess to test if it was completely dry. That, or he didn’t know Willy very well, but either case, his life was hanging by a spider thread here in the O-Zi-Ya Body and Paint Shop. A couple of the Flatheads were two cars down, admiring Larry’s 88 Olds he’d brought in this morning for a touch-up where some yahoo had keyed him the Plaza parking lot. The mood was decidedly vengeful.
Cap’t. Ned was saying how he’d make em regret that little piece of vandalism, yessir, and it wouldn’t involve the police, you better believe it! If Ned’s coat zipper catches Willy’s paint, he won’t have to worry about punks keying his ’72 Gremlin, not that a scrape would show on those elegant curves. “Trouble with these kids,” he was saying, “is they got no respect. Not for themselves. Not for anybody.”
Ned’s a Tea Party Patriot, so far to the right Republicans look like frothing radicals. Jimmy, the shop’s owner, looked over. “Hey, Ned, that paint’s barely dry. Be careful, huh?” Jerry chimed in with “Respect the car, respect the owner.” Ned pushed off and hoisted a shoe onto the chrome bumper. “I mean,k do these kids have parents or are they all on drugs?”
“The parents or the kids?” Jerry asked. “Probably both,” Ned answered his own question. “They don’t learn anything in school, I guess, except how to take tests. No wonder they don’t love parents or their country or any damn thing but theirselves.” Willy said, “Hey, Ned, you don’t respect the President. Or Congress. Or the government. Why would they? And take your feet off my bumper, wouldja? I mean, talk about respect….”
“Don’t get him going,” I pleaded, knowing what was coming. “Oh, I know Ned here’s a card carrying Patriot,” Jimmy laughed. “He’s still got his McCain/Palin bumper sticker on that golf cart he calls a car.” “You guys laugh now, but wait, we’ll see how you like a woman for President. You think the black guy was something, get ready.”
Most of the Flatheads are Republicans, but Cap’t. Ned makes a few of them hope — even if they wouldn’t admit it — the ‘woman’ wins next election. Just to enjoy Ned’s harangues for awhile longer. Entertainment at the Body Shop can always use more spice.
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