Grease Monkey

Within two days of Mother Superior's conversation with Alfeo and Eula about Gregorio's possible future as a motor mechanic, Mike Faragher had intentionally come on by the Trattoria to meet Alfeo and talk things over.

"Tell me, whats Greg like, really?"  You can't get more direct than that, and it appeared Mike was a no-nonsense guy.

Alfeo thought for a moment.  He didn't want to say anything that might put Mike off.  He really thought this was the right opportunity for Greg and he didn't want to let it pass him by.  "Well, he's a good kid, really.  I know he has a bit of trouble in school, but I think that was just because he wasn't enjoyin' it.  We have lots of things to do back home with the garden and Gregorio, he does his jobs like most boys."

"What do think he really likes most?" A man of few words.

"If you're askin' me, and you are, then I would say he likes messing around with thinks in the shed.  There we gotta lots of things little machines for doin' things and actually he likes keeping them workin' like new if he can.  These are not motors or anythin' - just packin' machines and bindin' machines.  He likes pullin' apart and making sure oil is in all the right spots.  Then he puts 'em back together just right.  That's why I think this idea of Mother Superior is a good one.  What does Gregorio have to do?"

"Well next year he will have to enroll in TAFE to begin his learning there.  They do a Cert III to become a light vehicle technician.  With all the trucks and farm machinery we have down here he might want to the the heavy vehicle one.  They are very similar.  They just work away at it while they work in the garage.  In the mean time I wondered if he would like to do some work experience for a couple of weeks at the garage.  That will give him time to get an idea of what it would be like, and I can see what kind of a kid he is.  If he is still keen after a couple of weeks, I will put him on casual for over the holidays.  That way he can get used to the smell of the place before it all starts.  Have you talked to him about it?"

"Not yet.  I wanted to know a bit more so that we could talk about more than just the idea.  If he goes for it, when would you want him to start that workin' experience?"

"As soon as you like, really.  I suppose there will be things to sort out at school before he can come.  He can't just leave, can he?"

"I'm not sure.  After I have told him about it I will see what the Mother says."

"Righto then.  I'll be off.  I will look forward to hearing from you."  Mike thanked Alfeo for the coffee and made his way back to the garage.

Over dinner that night, Alfeo raised the idea for Gregorio to think about.

"Mother Superior came to see us the other day to talk about your work at school."  Greg's jaw dropped and he almost knocked over his drink.  "Oh, sorry.  I didn't mean it like that," said Alfeo, trying to recover the situation before Greg got ratty.  "She said you seemed pretty bored with school, and maybe we could look at something else for you."

"Oh yeh!  What would that be?  Aren't I supposed to stay at school till I'm 17?"

"Well, yes and no, according to the Mother.  She wondered if it would a good idea to get you an apprenticeship - that's like being in school while you have a job."

"How do you get an apprenticeship?  I thought they were hard to come by."  Greg's tone was bordering on sullen, but there was just enough curiosity there for Alfeo to press on.

"Well, she knows Mike Faragher through church.  He said he needed to start off a new apprentice next year, and asked if she knew any boys that might be worth a go.  That was about a week before you got suspended, and then she started thinking about you.  She reckoned you weren't a bad kid.  Maybe you were just bored.  So she came and talked to us to see if we thought it would be a good idea.  It's really up to you, but we think it might be a bit of a win-win for you - get you out of school and get you a job that has got a future - and some money of your own!!  What do you think?"

"Well the money would be good, although the guys at school just want to go up north for the mining - plenty of money and you don't need any qualifications.  How long does it take?  What do you have to do?"

"Mike came to see us this morning and he said you could either go for light vehicles or heavy - cars or trucks and tractors - and that you do some stuff at TAFE while you work at the garage.  A Cert III I think he said."

"That sounds good - they were trying to get us to do a Cert II in design and tech at school, just so we would have something.  This would be much better.  So I would be a motor mechanic?"

"Yeh, if that's what you want to do."  Alfeo looked at Eula hopeful that this was a sign of him wanting to give it go.

"Well, when would I begin?  Do I have to finish school this year?"

"We could talk to the Mother about that.  She seemed to think if you wanted to give it a go, it could be arranged to start sooner.  Mike suggested you do a couple weeks of work experience to try out working at the garage and see how things work in the workshop.  He said if you wanted to keep on going he could take you on as a casual over the holidays and then they could get the apprenticeship started when TAFE starts next year.  What do you reckon?"

"I want to do it.  Yeh, I reckon that would be great.  I would get to muck around with cars and then I would have a qualification.  You always said we wouldn't get anywhere without a qualification.  Well I reckon that would be great."

Alfeo was almost happier than Greg seemed to be.  Here was his boy taking his forst step towards being an adult, making a life of his own, claiming his future on his own terms.

"Well, if that's what you want to do, I will call the Mother tomorrow and see what she thinks we need to do next.  I really don't know if she will say it will be best for you to finish Year 11 and get a school certificate for that, of whether you might as well get started as soon as you can.  We'll see, huh?"

Greg had another day of suspension, so he wouldn't see his mates at school till after the weekend, so as soon as he finished his dinner he was off to his computer to tell his mates on Facebook.

As far as he was concerned the deal was done.  He would do his work experience and he would stay on for the holidays and then we would start becoming a mechanic.  All of a sudden Greg's future has substance.  Before this it was just full of possibilities - and he never knew which he wanted to choose - but here was a chance to do something that he knew he would like. He even started thinking about getting his own car.  What sort would he be able to get. He had to get his driving license first, but that wouldn't be hard, and he would be getting money.  The future looked good.

The next day, after he done all those chores that got the day started at the Trattoria, Alfeo rang the school to see what would be a good time for him to see the Mother about Grgorio.  The teachers would be going back into their classes soon, so he could come now - maybe by 11am.  Alfeo always felt strange when we went to the school.  Somehow he felt like he was kid again and that the teachers were all much bigger in his mind than they really were.  It was even more so when he had to see the Mother.

Within a few moments she came by offering Alfeo a coffee.  He agreed and someone went to get one as he liked it.  Alfeo sat down in the chair in front of the desk, expecting the Mother to sit behind her desk, but she took a chair next to his.  "We met Mike and we have talked to Gregorio and everything is good.  Gregorio wants to have a go, but we were wondering when he could start it.  Mike said he could so a couple of weeks of work experience before he commits, and even then he would just start him as a casual over the holidays until TAFE started - it would be a bit like a holiday job."

"That all sounds good," said the Mother.  "I am glad that Greg liked the idea. It was just a hunch on my part, but obviously a good one."

"You women, you have good hunches sometimes.  Eula is always having hunches - and mostly they are good.  If Gregorio does this, when would he be able to start?"

"Well, it seems to me it would be good for him to finish his Year 11 and we could give him a certificate of completion, but there are only five weeks to go.  What about if he comes back for the week next week while we organise the two weeks of work experience to count as school work - he can get two points for that - and then I think we can just add up all he has done and make the certificate out of that.  Do you think he would like that?"

"I am sure he would like that.  After we finished telling him last night it was all he could think about.  He told all his mates on Facebook, so I think it is a done deal in his head.  I had an uncle who was a mechanic - back in Italy.  I never thought one of my own kids would be the same."