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Laney

I’ve never been a diva I’m a DIYer A do-er, and it’s a fact that I’m proud of Even if the rest of the Mills fa pride in your work—at least not the kind of work I do

I’ve ie fro the reasy every shift that I work I’h Queen of Court, not to hter of Robert and Brenda Mills No one expected ——and even higher expectations—in Springfield

It’s not my fault that I only have male cousins Nor is it my fault that I excelled in the life-skills courses they offered in high school, while the general subjects, like English and ive me a recipe for a particularly hard cake to bake or, even better, a sick engine that needs some TLC, and I’m your man…er…woman

My parents have always iirl, perhaps a television host on a chattyshohere they discuss fashion and shoes But I love cars Cars are e chroine work I also love racing, and I had such a reputation for winning back in high school that only those suckers ere new to toould fall for my hustle

“Mack, you better go to lunch or you’ll throw Cleets when he doesn’t eat!”

Mack and Clee Mack was huge, overweight, est teddy bear I’d ever known He was due, but when it caine, put his ear up to it while it ran, and diagnose the probleold and ay too overprotective ofas Mack was around

“Hey, Lane, I got into the groove and kind of spaced out on that Chevette Good littlesmooth as honey by the weekend”

“Mr Duncan will be thrilled There’s sloppy joes in the kitchen and strawberry cake in the ice box”

“Laney, I’ll get fat between you and ain at home”

“Shush You’re a big man, Mack Takes a lot to fill that vessel”

Cle on in the corner Clees as Mack was soft He was my first employee, and he’s as trustworthy as he is wiley I kneas an ex-con when I hired him, that he’d had his fair share of run-ins with the lahen he was young and carefree But now Clehters, and he took the job seriously He also knew his way around an engine like nobody’s business I trusted him implicitly Cleirls called him Granddad, and he picked them up every day from school

“Save a piece of that strawberry cake for as tank of that Chevette you’ve been spending your whole life babying Hoe supposed to ive each job a whole week? It’s a car, for Christ’s sake!”

“And the Harley you’re working on, Cle?”

“I’onna cover her ears so she can’t hear a word y’all are saying”

There was nothing I loved earheads

The Lace Garage was a specialty shop Sure, we repaired suburban housewives’ minivans, but ere known for was custoines from the 1950s, put hydraulics on your lowrider, custom rims, custom paint, all served up with a freshly baked cupcake My shop was my pride and joy, but I couldn’t say the sahter ed the Joneses at the country club, not one who dressed like Rosie the Riveter I was tatted up, pierced, and big breasted I dyed my hair jet black and wore the reddest of lipstick I was never afraid of dirt or fights or going up a pants size for eating too hnuts I was an anomaly, a to for the last five years, and I had a beautiful little robin’s egg blue bungalow to show for it And ht of reen with red flames on the hood A truck I’d traveled all the way to South America to accrue