No Good Deed

I told my readers on September 23 of last year about the fun and misadventures my sons had while rebuilding “The Little House” next door to us for Andy and his new wife to use.  Andy and Madison lived in the house for the first couple years of their marriage.  But there was another result of the construction that none of us could ever have anticipated.

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I’m not saying we wouldn’t do some things differently if we were to take on that renovation now, because I think we all learned a lot from the experience.  After the brothers did their part and went home, Andy and Patrick and, to a lesser extent, I, did more work to make the house and yard even more comfortable.  Andy did most of it. 

Andy, our second youngest son, has always had a “can-do” attitude.  He figures, if anybody can do it, he can do it. 

Arrogant?  Maybe a little, but his is the good kind of arrogance.  Call it self-assurance.  Call it confidence.  But not only is he capable, he is always quick to offer a helping hand to someone who needs it.  During “The Big Freeze” of 2009, then 19-year-old Andy, and baby brother, 12-year-old Patrick, could have huddled in the warm house like many people did, but not those two.  Instead, they took the truck and a trailer and visited several people, mostly older or disabled, in our area.  They used their boundless energy and fun-loving attitude to clear yards, driveways, and rooftops, and didn’t ask for payment.

When a friend’s house burned because of a limb that fell on their power line during that storm, they gathered donations of housewares from family and friends, to help the friend’s family move on with their lives.

So, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that word of their construction abilities spread, and eventually got the two of them a reward…a pretty nice reward.

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During the time Andy and Madison lived next door to us, they were teachers in area schools.  Andy taught math at his Alma Mater, Malden Schools.  He also coached basketball, track, and football.  But it was his personality that made him so popular with the other teachers, many of whom had taught him when he attended there.

One of those teachers asked Andy if he had ever built a deck on a house.

He answered affirmatively, having helped me build a 20×20 deck on my studio and having built two decks on “the Little House” by himself.

She then explained that a tree had fallen on their deck, destroying it beyond salvage.  She told Andy, if he and Patrick would tear off her old deck and build a new one, she would pay for all materials and pay them a reasonable wage…and be indebted to them.

Despite being very busy and newlywed, Andy accepted.

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Now, they still had other things to do and the worksite was a 45-minute drive each way so they didn’t get the project finished in record time, but they did get it done, and they did a very good job.  You might even call it a work of art.

I would.

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One day, when the end of the job was in sight, the lady took note of the way my sons worked.  They sweated and labored and laughed and worked some more.  She noticed that one of their favorite topics of conversation was old (classic) American cars.  In fact, Andy owns a 1967 Camaro and Patrick loves his baby-blue 1965 Mustang.

That gave her an idea for a way to accomplish two tasks.  She could show the boys how much she appreciated their work and clean out her garage a little at the same time.  Some would say she just wanted to get rid of some junk. 

I wouldn’t.  I would say she was happy to share some of her treasure with two young men who would get some genuine pleasure out of it.

It started with four words, “You two like old cars?”

I’m not sure which son answered quicker.  They both said, “Well…yes!”

She smiled, “I’ve got one in my garage that I’ll give you, title and all.  Are you interested?”

“Sure,” they responded.  “What is it?”

“I believe it’s a…”

The next words widened their eyes and brought a smile to their faces.

“1964 ½…”

To most fans of classic cars, that number alone brings one car to mind almost every time.

Mustang! 

You see, the very first Mustang was introduced in 1964 for the 1965 model year.  Of course, it was technically the 1965 Mustang but, since those built halfway through the model year were different than the ones actually built in ‘65, fans call the original one the 1964 ½.  It has always been one of the most sought-after models of the famous pony car.

I do know who was the first to say, “We’ll TAKE it!”

Yeah, both of them.

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The lady and her husband had acquired the car several years before and spent many happy hours working on the ‘Stang before life and family obligations got in the way.  They were unable to justify so much time spent on it.  Eventually they surrendered to the pressures of life and abandoned the beloved pony car to storage, with the full intention of working on it again when they could again spare some time.

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Lee Iacocca, Ford’s General Manager at the time, commissioned his design team to come up with a two-seated roadster to compete with popular European cars as well as the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.  Originally named the “T-5”, the car was renamed the Mustang and designed, to a large part, by stylist, David Ash.

The automobile was an instant success.  It was chosen as the pace car for the 1965 Indianapolis 500 and was featured in one of the most popular movies of 1964: the James Bond flic, “Goldfinger.”  The Mustang was the most successful release the automaker had undertaken since the 1928 introduction of the Model A.

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The soon-to-be former owner led the way to her garage and opened the door.  Through the sunlight that slanted through the opening the boys could see a familiar form covered in the rags of a tarp.  A few boxes of miscellaneous junk sat quietly on the covering.  The car sat just as it had been for over a decade, virtually untouched.

Andy and Patrick returned to their work on the deck with renewed vigor and finished it in short order.  The friend gladly signed the title over to them and they made arrangements to haul the aged Mustang home.

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Once at home, they started things out by doing some research and found out the vehicle was actually a 1965 model rather than a 1964 ½.  It had the most powerful V/8 motor available that year, a 289 CID (cubic inch displacement), rated at 200 horsepower, as well as a two-barrel carburetor and a three-speed automatic transmission.  The car originally had a vinyl top but had been converted to a hardtop by some previous owner.

The boys worked hard, enlisting the help of their brothers when they came home, and soon had the black stallion running.  Of course, Patrick nearly lost his hair the first time they cranked it.  He was leaning over the engine compartment when a backfire gave him with a new ‘do.

Since that day, Patrick has pulled the engine and transmission and begun to rebuild them.

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Like the previous owner, brothers Andy and Patrick have had to put the rebuild on the back burner as life’s necessities have overtaken them too.  The ‘Stang now sits in Andy’s garage awaiting free time and money to finish the planned renovation.

Regardless what comes of it, the fact remains that a Mustang in even its current condition could easily sell for $1,000 to $5,000 and, if they do finish their work, it could easily sell for $40,00 or more.  Or, they could just keep it as part of the family and enjoy riding in it now and then; or taking her on an around-the-country drive if they join brother, J.B., on the annual Hot Rod Power Tour.

No matter what they choose to do, there are lots of options for the vehicle they received, basically, for a little hard work and a good deed.

After all, as the bible says in John 15:18, “No good deed goes unrewarded.”

Hmmm, maybe a good personalized license plate would be, “REWARD”.

I think so.

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