An Offer

“Sorry, but with the whole box needing to be taken out, it’ll be a 3 hour procedure to get the thing out. Another 6 to put a new one in. I’ll keep to my daughter’s promise because you folks are SOL so to speak.” Andy explained, removing his glasses. He wiped both hands with a rag, and threw it across the garage.

Lacey groaned, and rolled her eyes. “Great, we’ll never get there in time now.” Bee seemed to pout to herself for a moment, before her eyes seemed to light up. She quickly whispered into Andy’s ear.

“Well... I don’t see why not. I ain’t giving that girl over there nothin’ of mine to wear. That’s your problem. Understood?” Andy whispered back. Bee’s eyes lit up, before she grinned ear to ear.

“I’ll go ahead and call the hotel to cancel, you call around to see if there’s a hotel nearby.” Sam commanded, as she pulled out her phone.

Bee couldn’t seem to contain her eagerness any longer. “What if I offered y’all a place to stay? We’ve got the guest room above our garage, it’s got a few beds and we can serve y’all supper. It’s the least we could do, given what all’s happened to you today.”

Sam pondered for a moment, before looking back towards the car. “Hey mom, the repair’s gonna take all day. They’re offering us their guest room and food. That good with you?”

Joanne had begun leaning against the window, with her head resting on the side. She nodded slightly, her mild-mannered indication of “OK”.

Bee smiled, and pointed to the waiting room on the side of the garage. “Awesome. It’s pretty hot out here, I’d suggest goin’ inside the waiting room for now. Don’t want y’all getting roasted.”

Reluctantly, Joanne departed from the vehicle, careful to keep her hands placed strategically to hide her bits from view. After closing the door, Joanne looked around, and noticed nothing but woods in all directions. “There’s no point anymore, is there?” Joanne thought to herself, as she let her hands slowly drop to her sides. Andy tried to avert his gaze, but couldn’t help stealing occasional glances.

Once inside the waiting room, Joanne quickly found a seat next to some magazines, and sat down on a cold, cushioned chair. A short minute later, Sam and Lacey walked in through the door, carrying Joanne’s purse, and phone. “How’s our favorite nudist doing?” Sam quipped. Joanne rolled her eyes, and took a deep breath. “You know what? I’m doing good. Today’s a shit day, and will probably continue to be shit. I’ll deal with it. I’m still alive.” Joanne proclaimed, as she crossed her legs and reached out for her phone. Sam gave her a weird look, before shrugging and sitting down.

After flipping through her phone for half an hour, Bee came inside to check up. The white shirt she’d been wearing underneath her overalls was now in her hands. “Hey y’all, just checkin’ in. Would y’all be ready to leave in a few?”

Joanne nodded her head in response, before picking up her purse. “Oh by the way, you can wear my shirt till’ we get back.” Bee offered, extending her hand. Joanne took a look at the numerous stains, and a sweat patch and recoiled. “No thanks. It’s just down the road right?” Joanne asked, moving out of the door.

“Well yeah, only problem is I need to stop by the store on the way home for some more food since I’m cookin’ for guests.” Bee explained. “I figured you might not wanna sit in the truck with all your bits out.” Joanne reluctantly accepted the shirt, and slipped it over her head.

Once everyone had piled back into the crammed tow truck, Bee was first to speak as the truck pulled onto the road again. “I know how hard it can be in your situation Miss...” Bee began. Joanne quickly spoke up. “Joanne. It’s Joanne.”

“Right. I know what it’s like to have an awful day like you’ve had. I normally ain’t one to care a whole lot about what I’m wearing. Hell, I run around the house without a stitch on half the time. But a few years ago, some girls on the soccer team thought it would be funny to steal all my clothes after practice. I had to walk home naked, on a Friday night when the whole town was drivin’ in to see a football game. Needless to say I was the laughing stock of the town for a while.”

Joanne’s heart ached for Bee. “I’m so sorry to hear that. I couldn’t imagine having to walk home from school like that. What did they do to the girls?” Joanne asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well Miss Gina down at the station heard about what they did, and pulled them over one night after a party. From what I’ve heard she dropped em’ all off in the town square wearing nothing but their sneakers.” Bee explained with a laugh. “I think I got my ****, indirectly at least.”

Joanne nodded her head in agreement, and stared back towards the road.