It was just about 4 in the afternoon and I found myself stuck in Detroit. I had no idea where I was but what I did know is that I needed some food and maybe a hotel if I was going to be stranded the night. After 10 minutes of driving I came across a diner called "Rochelle's", I pulled my car into the parking lot and before I go to shut it off it stalls out. I tried starting it a few times before realizing it was a waste of time, upon getting out of my car I walk inside the diner and take a seat where a lovely waitress greats me and asks "What can I get you sweetie?".

Looking up in exhaustion I answer her "I'll have a coffee, and a burger... no onions." As she goes to put the order in I catch up on the paper a bit, roughly 15 minutes goes by before she returns to the table with my food and coffee. She takes a seat in the booth opposite of me and begins to speak to me. "Forgive me sweetie but I never seen you around these parts before, and you look half asleep, everything ok?."

After taking a sip of my coffee I look at her and reply "everything is fine, just been a long day, I'm here on business and my car broke down. You wouldn't happen to know a place who can help me would you?". I take a bit of the burger before she answers me "Yea there's a place about 4 blocks from here called Fix & Stick probably your best bet."

After thanking her she calls me a cab while I finish my food. I leave her a nice tip before heading out.

Upon my arrival at Fix and Stick I notice a help wanted sign on the window, I grab it and walk inside, I look around and shout a few times "HELLO!", after I got no response I took a seat in a chair that was positioned near the window in front of the counter. I figured someone had to show up sooner or later.

Working on his last car of the day - Lawrence and Scratchy follow up on a vehicle that's had engine failure for the last month or so - seemingly scamming the guy for over three grand didn't seem enough yet to keep the customer happy - he turned the ignition as the person who owns the car seemingly leans on the wall next to the tools he has hanged on the walls,

"When you guys going to be finished, I have work to go to that means something," the man irritated and frustrated exclaims towards Scratchy,

"Hey, hey, don't be a mook, it'll get there, when it gets there," As soon as Scratchy replies, the door with a guy seemingly shouting for some help holding the sign walks in, smirking towards the car owner - he says under his breathe, "Sorry, gotta keep our customers happy," following suit, he wipes his hands as he approaches the man at the opposite side of the spacious building. 

Putting his hand out as he seems to want to work in the establishment - he greets Darmody,

"Talk as long as you wont, seems the city of 'motor innovation' are aggravated quite easily, around here think things happen instantly - you looking for a job?" 

"Well my car broke down, its about 4 blocks back at Rochelle's diner. I'm here on business but I can't get back home until my car's fixed. I'm always looking for cash so a job sounds good to me, what are you hiring for Mr....."

"Scratchy!", then man replies as he reaches out to shake hands. As we shake hands I introduce myself. "Good to meet you Scratchy, names Darmody".

Seeing as the guy looks enthusiastic, yet Scratchy himself is confused as he replies,

"Well, it's good to have an extra hand, but if you're just vising - I can't rightly give you a job if you're never here," Scratchy, hears the mumble of the person in the background as Lawrence fixes him a cup of coffee, looking behind him still smirking - he looks back towards Darmody, "Follow me, I could probably work something out," He motions his hand towards Darmody - grabbing a tool from the shelf.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, fix the damn car!" The customer starts to get aggressive - following suit, Scratchy replies,

"Drink the damn coffee, and it'll go quicker," Throwing the tool towards Darmody, "Our intern is the bestest mechanic in Detroit, i've brought him over here just for this very reason," Scratchy then begins to motion Darmody towards the car - patting him on the shoulder, "The engine doesn't work, Dr Darmody, seems to be leaking at the bottom to," With that, scratchy looks back and grins as he gets to work.

After looking the car over I notice bad leak. I look at the engine for about a minute or so and reply to the customer "you got a bad leak here!, your engine looks to be in rough shape."

The man stares at me in frustration before answering "Really? Is that the problem?, you're no better then the other two over here!... you got him all the way out here to fix this?, very fucking doubtful."

At this point I start to get passed with the guys attitude, so I act like I'm working on the car while speaking to Scratchy.

"You know Scratch I may not live down here but maybe we get make some arrangements, I'm sure there's some things you need help with. I'm good with my hands."

Guy speaks up with a smart ass remark "yea your doing great so far!."

I take my attention of Scratchy for a minute and direct it towards the customer "You know I don't have a job here yet, I can always just blow this piece of shit up, keep quite and ill fix the fucking thing!."

With a slight grin, getting back to how things used to be in his past working days - Scratchy see's himself in Darmondy, seeing as the irritated customer might not come back to his humble shop, a few moments taking the tool off of Darmody then moving towards the engine, with two quick motions, he connects the wire to the battery, before turning a small wooden lever that ceased the leaking at the bottom of the car. Sitting down in the driver seat - he turns the key as the car starts up,

"Happy now?" Scratchy pauses, turning the engine off - throwing the keys, "Now lets get back to what you was saying earlier," as he motions KL towards his small office with a type writer and a desk that barely fit in the room, all about class till the day he's six feet under, that's Scratchies mantra - though his work life seems to be hypocritical of that very belief,

"Sit, please" Scratchy begins, sitting down as uncomfortably as necessary in the small office, "I have to say - i am running a bit low on hands, need workers who I can trust to travel," Scratchy says, taking out a cigarette, taking out a match out of his breast pocket and lighting it, "I sell oil to companies outside of Detroit - they get it cheaper from me, maybe you can help out?" Seeing as the kid seems to play along with his little scam he had with his latest customer - Scratchy could see the trust even though they both only met, "If you can be more flexible, you'll be making alot of cash - and I mean alot," Scratchy pauses as he gets a cloth, wiping his hand, leaning over taking the help wanted sign off of him - leaning it on the wall behind him.

"Mr. Scratchy I heard you call me KL!, he was a friend of mine, I didn't know you knew him."

Looking at Scratchy I could tell he had not slept, maybe even for days. When he told me about the money potential I immediately jumped on the opportunity.

"I may make myself at home here, what kind of cash flow are we talking about?."

Half asleep, with no intention of giving up on his day as the history he's had from his only and first delivery finds himself at four jobs. Collecting himself - blinking a couple of times starts to indulge in the aroma of coffee and oil. Shaking his head from side to side as he puts on a smile he replies, "Sorry, Darmody," Grabbing the mug and taking a sip, "A mook crossed my mind as soon as I saw you, you better get a new haircut," Starting to chuckle, Scratchy gets up from his chair, as Darmody asks his question,

"Follow me kid, this is going to take some explaining,"