An old friend needs Deenie to help with a car

"Yeah mom," you tell her. "You know her, this is Trudy from high school. She needs my help with her car. It's kind of a make it or break it for her job, and she's been nursing it along for years."

"Years? I thought she joined up the same time as you, Deenie." Your mom signals for a turn.

"Naw, she washed out on Basic." Took a medical D because the combat instructor hurt her on purpose and the DI didn't have her back. "Happier back home, but it's been a treadmill just keeping her head above water." Crappy student loans dragging her down. "Even with a good job, now."

"Dental hygienist, you said?"

"Right, Mom." Trudy's day job.

"Well, good luck, Deenie, hope you get her back on her wheels."

You wave goodbye to Mom from Trudy's place.

Trudy is sitting on the back steps. "Ohmigawd Deenie, you're an angel," she says. She gets up and grabs you in a tight hug, squashing you against her breasts. She looks like a big marshmallow, soft all around, but she's got long arms and a strong core. Your toes leave the ground.

Trudy's night job.

"Not so tight, I'm gonna pee myself, Trudy!"

Trudy laughs. "Sorry Deenie, it's been so long, and you're just a godsend, being here for me."

Angel. Godsend. Mary Forbes is rubbing off on you just by staying in her house.

Your feet set down on the ground again. Trudy loosens her grip.

"I'm glad to see you too, Trudy. Your hair looks great."

It's Trudy the Giant, your old friend, looking rumpled like someone had left her in the spin dryer too long after the cycle, like the sweatpants and hoodie she was wearing. Trudy Mac, dental hygienist by day, lady wrestler by night, just trying to keep it together.

"Hahaha, yeah," Trudy says. She lets you go and stands straight and tall, looking like Xena the Warrior Princess.

Trudy-pie, such a sucker for flattery. but it was totally true. I'd kill for her hair, you remember someone saying. Long and black and thick, in great shining waves. Cheap shampoo, a brush, and neglect was her hair regime.

Shame she had to get it cut so short for Basic Training.

"Okay where's my patient?" you ask.

Trudy points. An old Toyota pickup with the hood up. "Won't start. Housemates couldn't figure it out."

"Does it crank?"

"Yeah."

"Let's try."

It turns over but won't catch.

"Okay," you tell her. "Gonna check a couple things. Talk to me while I work, True."

Trudy tells you of her ups and downs and about how things never seem to come together.

"How's your love life?" you ask.

"Plenty of dates and hookups, nobody regular. How about you, Deenie?"

"Same same," you tell her. "Just back in town, figuring things out, housesitting for Mary Forbes."

"Ohmigawd the Slut Angel?" Trudy says. "She's legendary. Didn't you..."

"Babysat her kids," you say. "I mean she's a bit much, but I get along with her okay."

"Where's she going?" Trudy asks.

"Second honeymoon? Actually she and her husband are taking a road trip, delivering his buddy's RV to someone who's buying it, I guess. Oh hey I think I got it. Get in and crank."

It starts right up.

"A wire came loose," you tell Trudy. "You gotta be anywhere, or you wanna hang out?"

Roll +Hot(+1) to TELL HER you want to hang out somewhere with nobody else around.