Page 53 of Street

“John, the teacher, warned all of us to be careful as we heated the pipes before adding the fittings. I thought he was worried about the piping. You know, like don’t put a scorch mark on it.”

“Let me guess. He was alerting you that when the material got hot you could burn yourself?”

“See, you understood. I was stupid. Everyone else figured that out too. I got one speck of melted plastic on my finger and I screamed like a… well, like a girl.”

“The other students didn’t make fun of you, did they?” Street asked, scowling toward the others in her class who had emerged.

“Stop looking mean, Daddy. No, they instantly jumped into action. One rushed me over to the sink to pour cold water over my hand while another alerted John that I had done the exact thing he told us not to do. I wish the floor had opened up and swallowed me. John was so nice. He treated my finger and told me someone always gets hurt after his warning. Usually, the injury is much worse. He said I probably saved one of the guys from an extremely serious accident.”

“How bad is it?” Street asked, concerned by the large bandage.

“He said to have a doctor check out the burn. Do you think Razor could see me?”

“Definitely. I’ll call him. Does your finger hurt?”

“Yeah. John offered me some aspirin from the medical kit, but those tablets make my stomach queasy.”

“Razor can help with that too.”

“Not a shot,” she whined.

“Razor will tell us what you need. He probably has a pill to go in your bottom.”

“A shot would be okay,” she said quickly, making him laugh as he swiped through his phone contacts.

“Hey, Razor. Can you squeeze Rosa in to look at her finger? She touched melted plastic in class today.”

“Ouch. Of course. Come directly here so I can check on the damage,” Razor said.

“On our way.”

Street disconnected from the call and winked at his Little girl. “He’s sharpening a needle as we speak.”

“He did not say that!” Rosa challenged, leaning toward him out of the cab.

“You’re right. He didn’t. Sit back so I can close the door, Little girl.”

She flounced against the truck seat allowing Street to secure her inside.

“Feel better, Rosa!” another student called to her.

Rosa waved.

Street slid behind the wheel and started the engine. He patted Rosa’s leg before reversing the truck and heading toward Razor’s office. “So, what did you learn today?”

“To ask questions if I don’t understand. Like if I’d raised my hand to find out what exactly would burn us, I wouldn’t have allowed that plastic to hit my skin.”

“Good idea. I already think you have mastered that lesson. You’ll never forget how melted, super-hot plastic feels. I figured out quickly that I needed to do as the instructor said and started swinging wide around a corner after almost ripping a wall out with the treads on a forklift. Mistakes happen to everyone. Sometimes, that’s the best way to learn.”

“You messed up in machinery school?”

“Constantly. Turns out popping wheelies with heavy machinery is mostly impossible.”

“You tried that?” Rosa asked with an incredulous expression.

“More than once.”

“Okay, I feel better. I just have a sizzled finger. You had to pass that wall for at least a day before they fixed it.”