Page 29 of MeK

Shockinglyenough,we end up working well together.Ican’t say that he’s overly talkative, but it doesn’t take long for us to fall into a routine of sorts.MeKbraces the panel whileIwork with my mismatched tools, knocking the rivets out.ThemomentIwork one of the sleeves out of the holder,MeKplaces a heavy pin in the slot to hold the panel in place so that he can put the other rivets in.Itry several times to help, but my hands aren’t large enough or strong enough to close the tool it takes to insert them.

We’vebeen working most of the day, with both of us skipping lunch without really meaning to and then my stomach growls.Thelook of pure horror on his face is priceless. “Youare starving!Forgiveme,Lacie.Igot caught up in finally making some progress and neglected your needs.”

“Lord, give it a rest already.I’mfar from starvingMeK, and you didn’t take me on to raise.It’salmost dinnertime anyway andIpromiseI’llsurvive until then.Isit just me, or does this part still not look like it’s sealing right?”

Hesteps back, looking at the panel from all angles. “Frack, we must have missed one on the top.”

“Ididn’t know there were any up there.Howdid you get that one in by yourself?”

“Itcomes pre-installed and when the others didn’t line up, it must have twisted.”

“Well,Idon’t see any ladders nearby, so it looks like you’re going to have to lift me up there.”

“Absolutelynot.”

“Well,Isure as shit can’t pick you up.Thisis the only thing stopping us, and it’s not like you’ll have any issues boosting me skyward with those arms.”

“Whatif you fall?”

“Iwasn’t planning on crawling around.Liftme untilIcan pull myself up but keep hold of my legs.”

“No, you will get damaged somehow.”

“MeK, do you want to finish this or not?”Hejust looks at me.Shakingmy head,Istart placing my tools in the few pockets my jumpsuit has and then literally raise my arms up likeI’ma three-year-old, andIswear for a split second, he almost smiles.Hemotions for me to turn around, and the next thingIknow,I’mlifted straight up into the air, a startled squeak leaving my lips.Instantly,Ifind myself back on the ground, but his huge ass hands are still on my hips. “MeK, the last timeIlooked, this is not up.”

“Youscreamed.”

“OfcourseIdid.Youliterally threw me into the sky without any warning.”

“YouknewIwas going to.Thiswas your idea.”

“Well, apparently, my brain didn’t.Now, this time let’s do it just a little bit slower and slightly closer to the panel.”

Hepicks me up, barely two inches off the ground, and my hands instinctively grasp his wrists as he walks toward the panel.Oncewe are right in front of it, he slowly lifts me higher, butIstill can’t reach the twisted rivet. “MeK,Ican see it, butI’mstill not high enough.Ifyou can push me a little higher,Ishould be able to pull myself up the rest of the way.”

“Youtold me to hold onto your legs.”

“Planschange.Youneed to learn to adapt quickly.”

“Evenif you get it outLacie, you are not strong enough to put a new one in.

“Thisone looks different from the others.Areyou sure we can’t put a bolt or something in temporarily?”

“Yes, that is possible, butIwould have to let go of you to retrieve one.”

“OnceI’mup here, you should have time to get it.Youwon’t be able to reach me then, anyway.”

“Howare you planning to get down?”

“I’llslide, and you can catch me.”

“Youare very trusting,Lacie.”

“Maybeso, butIthink if you have proven anything, my constant welfare is at the top of your list, so the odds of you dropping me are zero.”

Glancingdown at him where he is holding me against the panel, he just stares at me.Imotion for him to boost me up, and hesnarls before putting one of his hands under my foot, shoving me a good couple of feet more.Usingthe side joint as leverage,Iscramble the rest of the way up the panel’s edge.SinceI’mnot a huge fan of heights—or,Ishould say, of falling—Iget straight to the issue of beating this rivet out.Thisone seems to take me forever, andIswearIcan hear him huffing below me.Whenthe pieces finally break loose,Igrab them and put them in my pocket, then lean over the side slightly so he can toss the bolt or whatever it is up to me.

“Ok, throw it up.”Thankfully,Icatch it on the first try, and that’s a win in itself, as no sport of any kind was somethingIexcelled at.

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