How Green Becomes Wood

He knew he should probably ask Xander what he could afford, but given the kid was about to buy a car, he was fairly certain he could afford a $20 bike, so he took out his wallet and handed a bill over, "That's perfect, he'll be thrilled. Thanks. And be sure to call me if you want this gates put up, or anything else you need done. I'm able to do just about anything or refer you out to someone who can."
 
"Sure, sure, sure! Be happy to! You have a good day now!" the client said, happily making his way inside.

"Cool of you to keep an eye out for a bike for Alec," Lex said, assuming the incorrect twin because of their earlier conversation about Alec's inability or at least lack of desire to drive. She went over and gave it a glance over. "It does look in decent shape."
 
Cooger politely waved goodbye and then picked up the bike and walked with Lex to his truck, "It was actually Xander who asked for it, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's buying it for Alec or someone. I figure if Xander wanted it for himself, he would've asked about it way before he started looking for a car. Doesn't really make much sense to want them both at the same time, unless he wanted to get into mountain biking, since he'd need to drive to the mountains, but if that's the case, he's smart enough to have done research into what kinda bike would be best."
 
"Huh. Good kid," Lex mused. She moved to get in the passenger seat. "To be honest, I made the mistake of judging a book cover and thought he looked a bit more like a troublemaker. Of course, being a troublemaker doesn't mean you can't still be a caring kid, now, does it?" She flashed Cooger a smile and got into the truck. "How about you? Were you a softie, or were you the devil child?"
 
"Eh, kids like that are complicated. I don't know if I'd say he's never trouble, but I can tell you he's never malicious." Cooger explained carefully, securing the bike before getting into the driver's seat, "Real family-focused though, that kid. Kinda admirable. But, you know, I don't think most kids are one or the other. 'Cause I was trouble because I hated school, failed a lotta my classes, and didn't do my homework, and I got into fights pretty often in high school, but I was failing classes 'cause I do better with practical work, and I was getting into fights 'cause people were bullying my friend, and no friend of mine is going to fight alone. Probably gave my folks and teachers more than a few grey hairs, but was I a devil child? I dunno. Definitely took more pleasure in my defiance than I should've, though," He chuckled, "It was too much fun being a teenage dirtbag. What about you?"
 
"Total little monster," Lex admitted with a chuckle. "I could blame it on growing up on the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey, or the fact that my parents worked so much we were lucky if we got to see them awake for more than one hour at a time, but, ultimately, it was because I was jealous of my younger sister. Can you believe that? Being jealous of a younger sibling? She wasn't even the baby of the family, but she was pretty, confident, popular... all the things I thought I wasn't and thought I wanted. Of course, it was all really stupid, and I ended up hanging out with the wrong crowd out of, I dunno, spite, I guess. Sadly, I probably would have been one of the people teasing your friend." She gave Cooger a tired smile. "Teenagers. It's amazing we make it out alive sometimes, am I right?"
 
"I don't have siblings, so I can't really relate, but I think it's not too uncommon. Kids tend to compare themselves, right?" He asked, with a shrug, "But New Jersey, huh? You wouldn't guess it, but I lived a lotta time up in New York City. Guess that's the real reason why I didn't want neighbors. My parents were lawyers, and they put me in this real fancy boarding school that I was not smart enough to be in, and that's how I met Dark and Tarot. Rough time for them to be in that city, but it's like you said. We made it out alive." He grinned at her, but somewhere in his eyes was the memory of how close they came to not making it.
 
Lex caught the look in his eye. She considered asking about it, pursuing the serious topic that put that speck of darkness in this cheerful man's eye, but it seemed a little personal. While she didn't mind sharing, probably over-sharing at times, she also understood that not everyone was like that. Especially if the trauma hadn't yet healed enough not to hurt so much.

"I've been to New York City," she said instead, choosing to keep things lighter. "Not bad if you like humanoid ant hills without the hive mindset. I've actually spent so much time in cramped cities that as much as I love the idea of space, a part of me figures I'll have a panic attack if I do anything more than visit a campsite. As it is, I have a real backyard now and have no idea what to do with it! I had to look up YouTube videos to learn how to mow a lawn." She cackled, amused at her own ignorance.
 
"I enjoyed what I was able to do in the city. You're never bored, there's always new things to do or try, and pretty much every band will have a concert there, so that I liked. But the rest of it? Haven't wept too badly. I think all of us were glad to get away from some of those memories, but... Well, there's a song that Tarot likes about it, and she used to listen to it all the time. City takes a little more than it gives, but when it gives--" He chuckled, then laughed harder along with Lex, "If you want to take a tip from my Nana Lucy, you don't mow the lawn, you get your son a push mower, pay him seven dollars an hour, and tell him it builds character."
 
"Seven an hour? Wow, you must have been rolling in the dough!" Lex grinned. "Not a bad idea, except for the fact that I kind of doubt Toby's going to be sticking around more than a couple of years, meaning I'd have to figure out how to mow it sooner or later." She paused and rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Then again, I suppose the son doesn't have to be mine. I bet Xander or one of his friends would be willing to mow a few grass strips for some cash. Or..." She glanced at Cooger and smirked, "I can just hire a handyman who claims he can do just about anything and everything."
 
"Woah, hey now," Cooger chuckled, "I can do just about anything and everything, that don't mean I want to. Especially not if you have a pushmower, I've done my time. But Xander, Alec, all sorts of teenagers and soon-to-be teenagers in the neighborhood you can employ. And shoot, Ivy is six months old, you only gotta wait maybe a decade and you can hire her. I don't know how old the other kids in the neighborhood are, but my nephews got two years left of high school, and I doubt they'd move away to college right after graduation, so if we say they both go to college and stay at home until they graduate, that's six years. Then you only gotta find someone for the four years until Ivy is 10." He laughed hard and then looked quickly at her, "You can't tell Dark I'm planning to make his kids do child labour."
 
"I wouldn't dream of exposing your diabolical plan," Lex laughed. "It's a good one, too! Way to look into the future, not just the present." She grinned at him. "Of course, I might happen to mention to the teens that you recommended them."
 
"With how enterprising Xaander is, I'm surprised he hasn't already started a lawncare business. But I guess you can only operate so many businesses at one time, he's got his leather, and he's become my goon. I'm telling you, everybody needs a goon. Even the President has a goon. Anyway, I may've recommended them, but I'm not forcing them to do anything. We're just two people chatting."
 
"Right you are," Lex agreed, amused. "Speaking of enterprising, how has your business been doing? Now that the repairs on my place are slowing down, you must have a lot of time on your hands. Or have you already picked up another damsel in distress?"
 
"I can't complain. I don't have a new damsel, don't worry," He teased, pulling into her driveway, "but there's enough people in town I don't gotta worry too hard about finding someone. Everyone needs something fixed, things break all the time, so you're in high demand if you know how to put them back together again."
 
"And how to market yourself as the most easy-going repairman ever," Lex said with a grin. She unbuckled her seatbelt and moved to get out. "Thanks for your help, 'Jasper Cooger.' I'd invite you inside for some coffee or something, but I figure you want to get that bike to your nephew. He's going to love the wheels. But, if you're ever in the neighborhood and you want to call in that coffee order, just stop by." She shot him a wink and hopped out, leaving his payment for helping to deliver the gates on the seat.
 
"Ah that's not a marketing ploy, that's just who I am," Cooger replied, hoping out of the truck to walk her up to her front door, "And I'll keep that in mind, it's mighty kind of you to offer. But with how loose you are with my name, I'll be sure to keep my middle name a secret," He winked and then grinned, "Not that I'm all that secretive about my name, until I think withholding it would be frustrating. I'll see you around," He waved, then went back to his truck and drove one driveway over and let himself inside.
 
"Cooger's here!" Alec called, running through the house to say hello. "Hi! How was work today? Did you meet any interesting new people? Or cats?" He grinned, offering Cooger a hug.

Xander was still out in his workshop with the door propped open. He'd been out there for some time now, but he was feeling very productive.
 
"Hey there, Lil' Sage," Cooger said, hugging Alec with one arm, "Work was fine, it's not too bad when all you're doing is delivering some gates. I did meet someone new, yeah, but I didn't talk long enough to tell you if he's interesting or not. No new cats. What about you? Your weekend treating you well?"
 
Alec happily accepted the one-armed hug and moved so Cooger could actually have personal space. "Very good! I was on a phone conference with Peter for the last hour as we tried to figure out if we could translate a six-piece symphonic metal song into a three-piece not-quite-as-symphonic cover. It's been quite interesting. We have a back-up song if it doesn't work, but I think it will! Oh, and I think Mum and Da are upstairs. I mean, Mama and Baba."
 
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