Back in the late 80s, I had a customer named Mary. She drove a ’73 MG GT, silver. She kept it in good shape, and drove it all year round. She had graduated from ISU’s theater department and was working in a couple restaurants as a server to make ends meet.

She brought the MG to me one February and asked me to make sure that everything was ok on it. She said she was going on a trip to Chicago. I made up a list of things to do, and she agreed. I did them. When she picked up the car, she thanked me for all the years of service, and told me that she probably wouldn’t see me again. She was moving to Chicago to live with a man. “Live with a man?” I asked. “He’s in his 60’s,” she said. “I am going to be his live in.”. “Live in what?” I wanted to ask. “It’s ok,” she said reading my expression, “It’s a great opportunity for me, he says that he will take care of me.”

She was right, it was the last time I saw her. Not the last time I thought of her though.