The Bench Racers Journal

[Terry Bentley]

Chapter 131

Well Terry, I just started on things and managed to get the karts all cleaned up. I have your tires out and ready to mount when you tell me its OK to do that. Steves kart really looks cool all shined up like it is. I bet he spent a bunch of time to make it look so good. Must be lots of trouble to keep his kart from rusting.

Oh, I hope you dont mind, but went ahead and brought my tool box along with my other stuff. I was wanting to ask you sometime when we are not so busy, about any more tools you might think I can use. I dont have a clue about what else could be useful.

Not necessarily the minimum things to get by with. But maybe some extra tools that would come in handy with other things later on. Not only for working on my kart stuff. I already found out there are a lot of tools that can be useful for my bike too. But want to check with you before buying anything else first.

Chris you are opening what my grandmother calls Pandoras box. I dont know exactly what she means, but like a problem that just gets bigger and bigger. Well something like that.

When it comes to tools, you can never have too many, like ever. There is always that one other tool you could use. So you buy it and then another one you cant live without. It never stops.

Well Terry, Pandoras box is just a metaphor from back in the ancient Greek times. It sort of means a source of endless complications or trouble rising up from a single, simple miscalculation.

We had to draw names out of a hat at school for projects. I got stuck with Pandoras Box. Then did a big report on him in front of the whole class. It totally sucked too. I hated doing that. But it got a good grade, so worth the tradeoff I guess.

Its not that I have a problem talking in front of the class. But all of the research and homework just took up so much time for things that happened so long ago. Then an oral report to the class that nobody had interest or even cared about all of the effort I put in to it. Just for an "A". Well an A+. The teacher did insist of keeping my report I turned in for some reason.

Wow Chris, you never seem to surprise...Huh, him? Him who? Isnt he a she? Who are you talking about?

Hesoid, thats who Terry. Who did you think I was talking about? Didnt you learn anything last year in Language Arts class?

I thought you were talking about some crazy woman and a box. Who the heck is Heso who?

Hesoid is the poet that wrote about Pandoras box. She got way too curious and just had to open a particular box that was left in care of her husband. By opening the box, it released physical and emotional curses upon mankind. You know what else?

No Chris, but have this feeling you are going to tell me.

Well you know that stupid box? It wasnt even a box at all. It was actually some kind of a large storage jar. Geez, to think I am the one who feels dumb all the time being around here and not knowing how to do anything.

Then why do they call it Pandoras box?

Terry, you know this is all ancient history, right?

Yes, I would say so. Very ancient history. So ancient I dont know why we are talking about any of it. And mostly boring too.

All of that ancient stuff had to be translated you know. Its not like everybody or anybody back then talked in modern English. Or did you not realize that either? A lot of words or even hieroglyphics may have meant something or several things, but not always a direct translation to a modern language.

Except for the scholars and royalty or very rich were usually educated. Peasants were just dumb and clueless. They only did what they were told or else. Thats why there is so much stuff written about magic and witchcraft. They didnt understand since they were not educated. But some of the guys at school seem to be just as dumb even with an education.

So you telling me they had big jars and nobody was smart enough to name them? Those ancient people just went around pointing at something, grunting different snorting noises? Sounds more like cave man times to me.

I have watched all kinds of movies about ancient times and most of the peasants seem to be educated enough and talk just fine. Everyone was speaking and getting along without any trouble. Even between different countries. I am not sure if Chris picked up on my sarcasm.

Gee Terry, that stuff only happens in Hollywood. Like the movie Ten Commandments. Not even close to how it was back then. But I think you already know that.

I think the Trojan Horse was pretty cool. That was a neat stunt to pull. But I cant believe people were stupid enough not to check it out before retiring for the night. Must be that peasant mentality you were talking about. How did those soldiers manage to sit there inside all that time and not make any noise?

You know like all the stuff that old guy Homer wrote? We are supposed to read the Odyssey later this year in English class. I tried to get past a few pages in my text book, but not so successful. I cant believe people walked around and talked like that. I sure dont get it.

I guess calling it "Pandoras Storage Jar" would not sound as significant. Really boring and not even worth reading. Even tho I knew what Chris was trying to explain, messing with his head was sort of fun. He was taking me a lot more serious and literally than I was with him.

Sorry Chris, that stuff makes my head hurt. Greek Mythology does not get my blood circulating. But from the way you describe it, a crazy woman wreaking havoc on the world because she got too curious? Way too funny. Might not be so boring after all. But most of that stuff in Language Arts caused my brain to shut down. I had to focus on other things just to make it to end of the class.

If someone wrote a paper on sand casting aluminum using charcoal and an outside BBQ grill, I would be in front of the class with eyes and ears focused the whole time. How cool would it be if I could cast my own special pistons? Then not having to modify the stock ones to get our engines running faster.

I could cast, machine, and install some super hot parts that for some reason nobody else thinks is worth the effort to make for these bushing engines. Wouldnt you think this is more informative and something actually useful to learn about in school?

I dont know. They say those who dont learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Sorry, I remember that from school a few weeks ago too. But the casting thing could be something worth learning about. Sounds awful complicated to me, since I dont have any idea of how to do something like that.

I really dont know about making stuff. So like casting aluminum, can it be done in a grill? I dont understand how it could be that simple. If it is, wouldnt more people be doing it already? It cant be that easy.

I mean are you saying we can make things like this for real? Could we make are own engines? I know not everyone is cut out for that type of work. Most people I would think are clueless about doing much more than reading about stuff like this. Just getting a hang nail from doing work I bet some people would freak out.

I hope that I am good working with my hands to fix things or even make stuff eventually. But I have not been any place to learn very much yet. Coming over several times now sure has been a big eye opener for me.

Watching how to work on my kart and learning to actually assemble some of the parts is way cool. I was really scared trying to make those big flat washers on your lathe. But it wasnt that much of a big deal after you explained things. I still have no idea more than what you showed me to do.

Just meeting up with you and Steve at the hardware store a while back and finding out so much information just about a small bolt. Who would have thought? I never knew there was so much to learn like that. Then we went to Sears and you made it look it so simple to pick out some tools I could make use of. If I had done that by myself, none of what I ended up buying would have come home with me.

I kept looking at some super neat stuff, but had no idea what it was even for. My tool box would be full of a bunch of useless junk right now. It might have been fun to play with those fancy tools for a while, until eventually realizing they were of no use to me.

Everything you picked out has a specific purpose on my kart and even for my bicycle. You explained what each tool was good for and why that particular one was chosen over some others. Also having certain ones when two tools are needed at the same time and a few of them just for being more useful on things I would be working with mostly.

Since picking up the rest of my tools that were left in lay-away, not a day has passed when they didnt get handled by me. Mostly repetition and practicing how to properly use them on my kart. But this probably sounds really stupid to you. I learned so much in such a short time hanging out over here with you and Steve.

Chris, from what I have seen, you have the ability to do all kinds of stuff. But it sure takes a lot of time to learn enough to trust yourself on any of it. You learn one thing then find out how it relates to something totally different. Then you still learn more just to find out how much more you need to learn.

I dont think one day has passed that I did not learn something new. Might not always be major or even that obvious at first, but little pieces at a time go with other bits of stuff. After a while everything fits together and so much more makes sense.

Eventually you can figure things out not even knowing anything about the actual problem. Just from learning other stuff that is basically the same but wrapped up in a different package.

I think I understand what you are saying Terry. Here we were talking about a metaphor and you are sort of using an analogy right there to explain things to me about learning. Both very similar but actually are quite different.

Uh huh, yea........Yea, thats what I was doing. Whatever you just said, I think. How about we get back focused on the karts without the metaphors and analogies this time.

I work much better using the direct hands on approach. It is more effective and has real results that most people can understand or relate to without further explanation or a history lesson.

But if you want to keep talking about that stuff, my fingers are going to try the hands on approach by wringing your skinny little neck. And not metaphorically either. Chris finally got quiet while staring at me with eyes wide open after making a hard swallowing sound.

I could not keep a straight face seeing the expression on his. Wondering if he really was taking me that seriously. Dude, chill out. Man I am only kidding. Hey Chris. Chris, whats wrong with you?

I am sorry Terry. I didnt mean to get you all worked up. I also promised not to ask so many questions this time or get you distracted from the work needing to be done. I will try to keep my mouth shut unless I dont understand what to do.

Chris have you ever heard of "Only child syndrome"? Another name it might be called is puppy dog syndrome.