Mark was there in the morning as requested. I didn't see Ashley to speak to, but she was coming across the lot to be with the girls when they woke up. As we were loading up the material for the Grover's nursery, I could tell that Mark wanted to say something. He realized that we were going to be very busy so nothing was said until lunch time.
He burst out with, "I worked the truck for five hours yesterday after I got my lawns done."
"Good, I'm glad you had it with you."
"I charged money for it."
"Good, you should. Why don't you tell me about it?"
"This man who lives a few houses down was moving to a new house. He wanted me and my brother to help him and needed the truck. When we finished he offered me two hundred dollars for what we did. I said that was too much. I thought maybe seven dollars an hour for the truck and you charge fifteen dollars an hour for a helper and I didn't know how much you would get for Steve, so I charged ten dollars for him. I have a check for one hundred sixty-five dollars for you to pay us with."
"Why didn't you just keep the money? I never would have found out."
"Would you have if you had been in my place?"
"No."
"I wouldn't either. You can put my wages in my account, but maybe you could give me some money to give to Steve. I told him I thought you might pay him seven dollars an hour."
"We'll put Steve on the payroll then. Ashley is going to keep my books so we will talk to her before you go home tonight. She'll have the money for him."
"One other thing, my Mom showed me how to do calligraphy before she went away. Can I letter the truck with your name on the door?"
"Sure, that would be good advertising. Go ahead, I wish I had thought of it." Mark was all smiles the rest of the day.
After work, Ashley listened to Mark's explanation of where the check made out to me came from. She treated Mark the same as she would any adult, saying when finished that it was a good piece of work. "There is going to be a birthday party for Lindsey on Saturday. Would you invite your family for me? I will take a minute to talk with Steve when you come and we can fill out a couple of forms for him the same as Milo did for you."
"Uh, what happens if Becky comes and is wearing something that isn't appropriate? She is apt to. She does it to us all the time. I'm ashamed to call her my sister sometimes."
"Milo will be watching for her. He will think of something." Turning to me, she said, "Won't you, Milo?"
"I guess I will have to. Don't worry about it Mark. Just plan on coming and having a good time with your stepsisters. Oh and Mark, tomorrow when you come, come here to the garage. A lady is going to be moving stuff out of here so we can have room for the house project. You will be using the truck and helping her all day. She will talk your ear off and you will hear some swear words you have never heard before. She doesn't mean anything by them, that is the way she is. She was my neighbor when I lived with Jean and still is a very good friend."
"Okay, sounds like a plan. What are you doing now that the Grover's ceiling is done?"
"I still have the plaster baby image to create and Kim wants the walls papered. She also wants the floors sanded. I am not going to attempt the floors myself. I'm afraid I will mess it up, but maybe later we will try it. Next week when the color and glitter goes on the ceiling, you and I are going to watch the painters. We might as well add that to one of the services we can do."
As soon as Mark left, Ashley stated, "I can see why you trust him. He made eighty dollars for the business and you didn't even know you had a job going."
"Yes, well, put that money towards an account for bonuses at the end of the year."