Last Call Read Free Page A

this inner tube out from under the tire
    being careful not to jerk out the valve stem
    push it through its hole like this
    and take that inner tube off the wheel
    bring it over to the air hose and fill it up
    now put it in a bucket of water or run a waterhose over it like this
    you’ll see and mebbe hear the air hole
    right there you see it? mark it with your finger
    bring it back over to the bench and get your tire patching kit
    I suppose you don’t have one here’s what it looks like
    you can get you one at Bill Edwards Hardware and Appliance
    it’ll last you almost a lifetime
    take this lid off the can you see the rough edge part on it?
    scrape that air hole with it like this
    rough it up so the suption will hold
    now get out the glue, see?
    squirt a little over that roughed part and the hole
    spread it out and blown on it a little
    next shake the rubber patches out of the can
    find you one that will cover the hole
    yours is a little one so I’d use a small patch
    if they all gone cut a big one down to size
    now pull off the hesive cover on the back of the patch
    so the sticky side’s out
    just put that sonofagun right over that air hole
    press down and smoothen it out
    to where it’s neatened and flat, you see?
    before you put it back in the tire eyeball measure
    from the valve stem to the patch where the hole was
    take and run your finger on the inside of the tire to where that is
    so yougn find out what made the flat tire
    there it is, see? that’s a goathead you runned over
    so turn the tire over on the outside of where your finger is
    see, it’s right there
    you’ll need to get that sticker out with your fingers
    or some pliars if you can’t get purchase on it
    it’d pay you in the long run to sweep your fingers all down
    the inside of your tire to see if it’s any other stickers poking through
    yougn bust off the sharpies mebbe pick the stems out from the tread
    save yourself doing it all over again before too long
    if yougn get your daddy to give you a quarter
    go down to Bill Edwards and buy you a tube of neverleak
    and put it in, that’ll stop most goathead flats
    now we put that inner tube back
    on the wheel getting the valve stem in straight
    work that tire back around the rim over the inner tube like this
    take your screwdriver and put it under the tire
    lift it up and see, it just pops back on
    so we’ll air it up to 30
    now we put this wheel back on the forks
    tighten the nut up with the monkeyranch
    and there you go. Done.
    You think you can do it now?
    Do what? said Monroe Newberry
    Well I’ll swan said Johnny Bert Ezell
    I thought you might speak one day
    and here it is
    2
    Did you hear a word I said, boy?
    I was ashowing you how to do it and telling you
    all the way
    Didn’t you hear?
    Monroe nodded
    But you can’t do it yourself now
    after watching me and telling you what to do?
    Monroe scrunched his shoulders
    Well then, that’ll be a quarter, son
    What for? said Monroe
    That’s good said Johnny Bert Ezell
    For fixing your flat tire
    it costes a quarter
    Monroe held out his empty hands
    What you got then?
    Monroe shook his head
    then put his hand in his pocket
    pulled out a pocket knife
    Give it here
    Monroe shook his head
    Why not? said Johnny Bert Ezell
    shook his head again
    Tell me said Johnny Bert Ezell
    Daddy’s said Monroe
    Hegn get it back
    I’ll have it right here
    hegn come for it
    Johnny Bert Ezell held out his hand
    Monroe scrunched his shoulders again
    It’ll be all right said Johnny Bert Ezell
    I’m not gone keep it
    Monroe put the knife in his hand
    then pointed to the bicycle
    Yep, she’s ready to go
    Monroe swung his leg over the bike
    looked at Johnny Bert Ezell and said
    See you
    I’ll hope it’ll be sooner than later
    said Johnny Bert Ezell
    3
    You took my pocketknife
    away from my boy Monroe
    said D’Wayne Newberry
    That’s not ezactly right said Johnny Bert Ezell
    he