"Need something?"
The boy nodded toward the garage.
"Are you hiring?"
The man looked him over.
"For what?"
"Cleaning. Sweeping. Whatever."
"How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
The man shook his head.
"Not hiring kids."
The teenager nodded and started to leave, but another failed starting attempt made him stop. He glanced toward the motorcycle, noticed the movement of a loose cable beneath the engine, and instinctively leaned closer. He was trying to see whether the connection was actually attached when the club president rounded the side of the lift and grabbed him.
Now, less than an hour later, he stood in the same garage while a group of grown men stared at a mechanical problem he had identified almost accidentally.
The lead mechanic was still searching for the bolt.
The president was no longer shouting.
And the boy wanted to disappear.
"Here," the third mechanic said finally.
He held up a replacement fastener from a labeled drawer.
The president looked toward the lead mechanic.
"Why didn't you think of that?"
The mechanic scowled.
"Because we haven't finished diagnosing the problem."
The president turned toward the boy.
"Stay behind the yellow line."
The teenager obeyed.
The younger mechanic carefully examined the connection and began checking the motorcycle's electrical system with the engine off. He didn't immediately attempt to start it. The president was impatient, but the younger mechanic insisted they needed to confirm that the cable and mounting surfaces were suitable before reconnecting anything.
For the first time that day, the work proceeded quietly.
The third mechanic checked the maintenance records. The younger mechanic examined the cable, and the lead mechanic stood near the tool cabinet with his arms crossed. Every few minutes, he offered a warning about wasting time or suggested that the engine had more serious damage that would make the repair irrelevant.
The president listened without responding.
When the younger mechanic finally stepped back, he wiped his hands and looked toward the president.
"The connection was definitely open," he said. "But the battery's been worked hard, and I want to check everything before we try again."
"Can you fix it?"
"I can restore the connection and test the system properly. I can't promise that's the only problem."
The president nodded reluctantly.
"Then do it right."
The boy watched from several feet away as the mechanics continued their work. He wanted to ask about the earlier symptoms, but he knew the moment had passed. The older biker was no longer threatening him, yet there was still something dangerous about standing in that room.
The lead mechanic eventually approached him.
"Enjoying the show?"
The teenager shook his head.
"Then stop staring at me."
"I wasn't."
The mechanic leaned closer.
"You think pointing at one cable makes you smarter than everyone here?"