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Sally-Sue Shackelford was a sweet girl, despite the cards she’d been dealt that put her in a less-than-ideal position most of her life.  Wise beyond her years and without a jail record despite them, Sally-Sue didn’t come to Fort Stockton till after she’d graduated from Zapata High School and wanted something more.  Of course, most folks have never been to Zapata, so it’s hard to judge.  But by and large folks who come to Fort Stockton looking for something “more” are generally assumed to have left something “less” and we have a hard time envisioning just what that could be.

Sally-Sue is a hostess / server at the K-Bob’s.  She says it’s only temporary, until her acting career takes off.  But Fort Stockton has one movie theater, no community theater, nor agents of any kind, so one could question how that career shift is going to occur.  But, the assumption is that there are more opportunities in the theatrical arts here than there are in Zapata so maybe it will all work out just like it should.  In the meantime, she’s responsible for keeping the “Bottomless Pinto Bean Pot” full at the end of the Salad Wagon, hostessing during the busy times, bussing tables as needed, and making sure everyone’s iced tea and water glasses are full.

She’s an attractive girl.  Some, especially the members of Second Baptist of Fort Stockton, are put off by the tattoos.  But they seem to be in good taste and reflect native species of flora and fauna.  At least the ones people have seen.  There’s speculation about those that she may or may not have in areas not visible to the dining public.  When Lucinda hears that talk she’ll generally slap the back of the head with a menu of whomever is offering it and tell them to mind their own business.  

Sally-Sue’s mother has had a variety of husbands, all of them ne’er-do-well.  It’s confusing exactly which number the husband was that actually sired Sally-Sue, and in the big picture it doesn’t really even matter.  But most folks think she’d be better off if she had a stable relationship with him, regardless of his place in the lineup.  

He came into town once a year or so back.  He didn’t even stay with her at her apartment in the Alamo Arms; he got a room over at the Naughty Pine Motel.  Rusty Hammer, owner of the hardware store here in town, said he heard that Trixie from the Klip-N-Dye was spotted going into his room.  As a professional courtesy Vern, the night manager at the motel, wouldn’t confirm that fact verbally.  He did, however, nod his head up and down every time someone asked about it.  Professional courtesy has a lot of gray areas, apparently.

It was apparently Sally-Sue’s birthday that drew her dad into town.  “That and a feeling of guilt,” Lucinda noted.  Lucinda might be right.  

Nonetheless, Sally-Sue’s father  said “I feel like there’s a lot I need to make up for.  I haven’t been a very good father.  I want to get you a car for your birthday.”  Well the girl was beside herself with excitement, as any young kid would be.  He picked her up in his Camaro and they went down to Manny’s Motor Mart to see what was available.

“I didn’t like the sumbitch from the get-go,” Manny said later.  “He seemed like he thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow.”

Anyway, he seemed to be drawn to the 2006 Chrysler Crossfire Limited Coupe 6-Speed that was on the very front row of the lot, on Houston Street.  “I thought it was a little rich for his blood, and tried to suggest they look at something more practical.”  Manny is one that is not afraid to offer advice if he thinks someone is making a poor automotive decision.  That’s what’s kept him in business all these years.

“I had a low mileage Taurus that would have been perfect.  About half the money, too.  But Sally-Sue’s dad kept pushing her to the Chrysler.  Granted, it is powered by a 3.2-liter V6 paired with a six-speed manual transmission and is finished in Oyster Gold Crystal Metallic over Dark Slate Gray Nappa leather,” Manny said.  “And, features include staggered-diameter seven-spoke alloy wheels, a speed-activated rear spoiler, fog lights, heated power-adjustable seats, a CD stereo, an Infinity sound system, navigation, dual-zone climate control, and cruise control.  But still.”

Her dad said, “Sally-Sue, you’d look great on these heated power-adjustable seats.  And look at the white silver-color trim accents on the center stack.”  Even Sally-Sue thought it might be a little over the top, but her dad seemed insistent.  When he started talking about the CD stereo, an Infinity sound system, navigation, dual-zone climate control, and cruise control, she finally gave in and said, “I love it.  It’ll be a great car.”

It was when they went into Manny’s office to do the financing contract that things took a turn.  “Here’s the deal, baby,” her father said.  “I’ve got a little prob-lem-o with the old credit situation.  We’re going to need to put the financing in your name to make this deal go through smoother than shite through a goose.”  Manny put the pen down.  Sally-Sue looked perplexed.

“Now don’t you worry about a thing.  I’ve got the cash for the tax, title and license,” he dad said.  “Then I’ll send you the money for the payment every month.  You don’t worry your pretty little head about a thing.”

That revelation took some of the bloom off the rose of the whole new car experience. Manny didn’t even want to write it up.  Sally-Sue felt like it wasn’t even the car she needed.  But her dad seemed so insistent on it.  Like it was going to heal wounds that went back years.  They completed the paperwork and he dad followed her over to the Lucky Lady in his Camaro for a couple beers to celebrate.  Of course he’d used all his cash for the TT & L, so Sally-Sue had to buy.  She looked so disappointed, Hank gave her a round on the house.  Then, Trixie came in and sauntered up to the bar and Sally-Sue’s dad made excuses so he could hightail it back to the Naughty Pine.

Sally-Sue sat rejected and alone at the bar till she finally went back to the Alamo Arms in a ‘new’ Chrysler Crossfire that made her cry all the way home.

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