Chapter Text
Rudy held on as Val rounded the corner.
"What, am I scaring ya?" Val grinned
"Yes and no" Rudy smiled shyly. She felt a pleasant excitement the minute they left the house. Not wanting to wake Clair, Rudy mentioned the possibility of looking at new mowers. Vals eyes lit up and offered her a ride to town.
"We'll check out the riding mowers first, there's two kinds of em." Val expertly backed her trailer next to the curb. " I hope you don't plan on pushing a mower in that big yard."
"Definitely a riding one, I have better things to do, plus I'll have school, and maybe a part time job!" Rudy smiled.
Val was smitten with Rudy's eyes as they sparkled and was suddenly opening the vehicle door for her.
"Thanks!"
"So how much can you spend? Did your mom agree to a limit on how much?" Val asked, following close behind her. She quickly noted the strength and quickness of her step.
"I got this" Rudy held up a credit card. " All mom said was to get something with good ratings and will last a long time!"
"All riiiiite!" Val approved with gusto.
"Hey, ya , Val!" greeted two men walking past. Rudy guessed they were some sort of construction workers, pushing a cart of lumber and some drywall.
"Yo, Diamond, sup?" Val responded with confidence.
"Who are they?" Rudy was curious, as they entered the store, its air conditioning a welcome relief.
"Some dudes i work with sometimes. There's the garden department, let's check their shit out!"
"What kind of work?"
"Meh, drywall, sometimes pouring concrete. Stuff like that."
"Hey, Val, who's the pretty thing ya got there?" an older man called out. He wore white coveralls that were spattered with ancient paint in all colors. "I need a finisher later this week, you gonna be free?" He enquired in a friendly voice.
"Sure, Thursday an Friday look good. You're doin the old Tenly building, rite?"
"Yessir!" he reached out his hand. "I'm Chuck, but everyone calls me Old Man " he laughed heartily. "An who might you be, young Miss?"
"Rudy, sir. Rudy Huxtable, we just moved here."
"OH, they got the Thomas place, right?" he looked at Val, who nodded.
"Pleased to meet you, Rudy. Did Madea hook you up with this crazy girl?" he grinned.
" You mean Mrs. Simmons?"
"Yea, but most of us just call her Madea. You keep calling her Mrs. Simmons, she liable to get on ya soon."