Different when offered by someone else.
She opened another letter.
This one dated three years later.
I saw a photograph of the girl today. She has your serious face. You had it at six whenever I tried to explain carburetors.
The mother laughed through tears.
Do not tell her I was brave. I was frightened most of the time. Do not tell her I saved anyone. I left. Do not tell her I was a criminal either. People will try to make one word do the work of a whole life. Make them use more words.
The girl listened.
The biker smiled faintly.
That sounded exactly like him.
Another letter:
If she likes machines, let it be because she likes them. Do not give her my tools like they are an assignment. Dead men already ask too much of families.
The girl looked at her pink toolbox.
Her mother whispered:
“I never gave you his tools.”
“No.”
“You found the notebook at Auntie’s house.”
“Yes.”
“I almost took it away.”
The girl stared.
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“That you’d become obsessed with him.”
The girl looked toward the cabinet.
“Maybe I did.”
Her mother shook her head.
“No.”
“You became obsessed with fixing things.”
“Different.”
The girl smiled slightly.
Maybe.
Then she opened her own envelope.
The first letter had no date.
If you are reading this, then somebody ignored my instructions or you found your way here because machines became yours before I did. I hope it’s the second one.
She looked at the biker.
He raised both hands.
“I followed instructions.”
The girl almost laughed.
She continued.
I don’t know your name. Your mother had three possibilities when I last spoke to her and refused to tell me which one she chose because she said I didn’t deserve advance information. She was probably right.
The mother burst out laughing unexpectedly.
“I said that.”
The girl stared.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“Mom.”
“I was angry.”
They laughed through tears.
The letter continued:
You owe me nothing. Not curiosity. Not forgiveness. Not mechanical ability. If you opened this cabinet hoping to find money, I apologize in advance. There isn’t much. Mechanics are famous for converting cash into tools.
The biker laughed.
“True.”
There is a motorcycle under the cover. It is unfinished. It is not yours unless you want it. If you do not, sell it. If you hate motorcycles, sell it faster. If you love horses, buy a horse. If you become a dentist, I hope you charge people fairly.