The most civilized conveyance known to man

[Tobias Blythe]

Tobias sat at the edge of the sparse front lawn. A bicycle frame was set up next to him, smaller parts and tool set nearby. He shifted through the pile of parts, frowning. "Where it is?" he muttered.

[James Cleaver]

The morning was fresh and clean, and a car that was not normally seen this early on a Saturday morning was prowling the streets. The driver was, of course, James Cleaver. He was, of course, looking for something to while away his time.

"Tobias!" he called out, leaning out of his window, "Get some real wheels!"

James laughed as he pulled the cadillac up close to the kerb.

[Tobias Blythe]

Tobias started, frown deepening as he tried to place the driver. "This town isn't big enough to need anything but a bike," he retorted.

[James Cleaver]

James nodded as he got out of the car and sat down next to Tobias, "I know it.." he grinned, "But I don't care, there's nothing else here to spend my money on except my girl over there." He nodded towards hispride and joy.

"Going to the power plant opening today?"

[Tobias Blythe]

"There's college," Tobias pointed out. "And saving to go live somewhere else."

He shrugged. "Probably. Dad and his friends'll want to go and I'll get dragged along with them."

[James Cleaver]

James shrugged, "Dad'll pay for college...And I'll live on campus." He picked up a random bike part - he had no idea what it was, then added, "If I even go to college. Heck I might jus' wanna stay here and work at the Diner my entire life..."

The young man looked over at his car, admiring it, "I'll definitely have to go. S'funny, they never force me to go to church with em, but a Power Plant Opening - what would the neighbours say if we didn't go as a family. Especially with your father being the mayor..." James rolled his eyes and grinned.

[Tobias Blythe]

Tobias made a face. "Just working at the Diner'd get pretty pathetic after a few years. Why would you wanna stay here anyway?"

[James Cleaver]

James broke out into laughter, " I was kidding!"

He put the strange bike piece down, "So why did you pull it apart in the first place?"

[Tobias Blythe]

"Huh?" Tobias looked over at the bike parts, catching up with James's train of thought. "Oh. It was the only way to make it fit for the trip down here."

[James Cleaver]

"Oh, right," replied James, nodding in understanding.

"OH! You were out and about last night weren't you?" asked James, suddenly remembering the girl at his house, "Did you see a girl 'round here, brand new, pretty but got a flippin' mouth..."

He trailed off as he realised Tobias would think every girl he saw was new, "She was.. she was lugging 'round a REALLY heavy suitcase."

[Tobias Blythe]

Tobias shook his head. "I didn't see anyone with a suitcase. Someone else actually decided to move here?"

[James Cleaver]

"Actually no, she's on her way to California and she ran out of money, or somethin'," grinned James, "Pretty stupid planning if you ask me. Anyway, she was lugging this suitcase round after dark! And I was cruising home after work and saw her, well i offered her a lift and she gave me a load of lip. So i just treated her the way she was treatin' me and, voila, she stayed the night in the guest bedroom."

James thought about her for a moment, "She's crazy. Name was.. Lizzie Something-Something..."

[Tobias Blythe]

Tobias snorted. "If she's crazy and lippy she should fit right in with the other girls here."

[James Cleaver]

James laughed, "Are you serious? All the girl's here are so... boring... got their noses in books. They should start a literary club or something." James shut his mouth quickly and actually looked shocked he had said and understood the meaning of such a big word, "This girl had fire."

[Tobias Blythe]

"Don't get too attached to her. She doesn't sound like someone who'd want to stick around here too long." And Tobias could certainly sympathize with that.

[James Cleaver]

"Pah," scoffed James, "Don't worry, I won't. After treating me like dirt, which was after I offered to drive her to her motel, then offered her a place to stay, she had the nerve to ask if my dad could get her a job at the plant. She's not going anywhere in a hurry."

James laid down on the grass and looked up at the beautiful sky, "I wonder why everyone is so damn obsessed with the power plant? I guess, it's exciting because it's new... Did you guys move here for the Plant?"

[Tobias Blythe]

"Ah, sort of," Tobias said, busying himself with attaching a bike part to the frame. "I think Dad and his friends have some research they want to do that involves the plant. I'm not sure what though."

[James Cleaver]

James watched what Tobias was doing with great interest. He had had bikes when he was younger of course, but he had never pulled one apart before.

"So his friends came too?" asked James.

[Tobias Blythe]

"Conrad Beecher and Anton Solucio," Tobias said, not having much luck with getting the part to attach stay attached. "They were all at the same university or something."

[James Cleaver]

"Wow....they must all be really good friends," said James, "To move to this dump.... Weird..."

He leant forward and held onto the part, so Tobias could attach it better, "So you still starting school on Monday? Do you reckon you're ride will be ready by then..." he chuckled.

[Tobias Blythe]

"Thanks," Tobias said absently. "I can walk if it isn't. There!" He sat back, triumphant, the part staying firmly screwed in. "Now I just need to find the chain. Which is missing," he remembered as he stood. "I bet one of them took it. I'll see you around," he called to James, heading inside the house.

[James Cleaver]

James laughed and shook his head, "Do they do that sort of thing often?"

The young man was perplexed and greatly interested in what it was Tobias's father did.

"See ya at the opening," he called after Tobias after he got back into his car. He put his aviators on and popped his collar, turning his car on and revving it a few times, he felt as fresh as the morning, he might go out to the highway and floor it a couple of times. He'd stop by home first, get his smokes.

((OUTSKI))