Shop Life Story #001
Story #001
First Day
There was nothing special about the building.
From the outside, it looked like every other repair shop.
A few oil stains in the parking lot.
A couple of customer cars waiting their turn.
The distant sound of an impact gun echoing from somewhere inside.
To everyone else...
It was just another garage.
To Wabbit...
It was his first day.
He paused for a moment outside the bay door, coffee in one hand and a toolbox in the other.
"You've got this," he muttered to himself.
The moment he stepped inside, the shop greeted him the only way a repair shop knows how.
Someone was looking for a 10mm.
Someone else was arguing with a rusted bolt.
The radio was playing just loud enough to be heard over an air compressor.
A service writer hurried past carrying a stack of repair orders.
Nobody seemed to notice the new guy.
At least...
Not yet.
"Wabbit?"
He turned.
A man wearing a grease-stained shop shirt walked over and held out his hand.
"I'm Mike. Welcome to Wabbits Garage."
Wabbit smiled and shook his hand.
"Glad to be here."
Mike looked toward the rows of toolboxes.
"You'll meet everyone eventually."
He paused.
"Some sooner than others."
As if on cue, someone from the back yelled,
"WHO MOVED MY 10MM?"
Without missing a beat, another voice answered,
"Nobody."
"You lost it."
A few people laughed.
Mike just nodded.
"See what I mean?"
Wabbit laughed.
"I think I'm going to like it here."
Mike pointed toward an empty toolbox space.
"That's your bay."
Coffee machine's over there."
"Bathrooms are through that door."
"If somebody says it'll only take five minutes..."
He stopped for a second.
"They're lying."
Wabbit grinned.
"I'll remember that."
Mike handed him a clean repair order.
"Don't worry."
"We'll ease you into things."
Wabbit looked down at the paper.
Then back up.
"So..."
"What've we got?"
Mike smiled.
"You'll find out in about thirty seconds."
Wabbit picked up the keys.
Straightened his shirt.
Took one last sip of now-lukewarm coffee.
And headed toward his first customer.
Service Record
Technician: Wabbit
Status: Officially clocked in.
Coffee: Already getting cold.
Toolbox: Finally organized.
Lessons Learned: Never trust anyone who says it'll only take five minutes.
Next Story
Story #002
Turns Out... Engines Like Oxygen.