part 6
Roger drove the LTD to the scrap yard the next day. The place was on state route 24, surrounded by rusty chain link fencing. The gate was open with a wooden shack just inside. A hand-painted “office” sign was beside the open door. He parked beside the office and went in. The walls were plastered with wheel covers, brand emblems, and, importantly, license plates. He gestured at a wall covered with plates.
“Do you rescue the plates from all the wrecks you take in?”
There was a man in an office chair, leafing idly through Auto Trader. There was a stack of them on a rack beside the door. The man wore greasy blue coveralls with “Oscar” embroidered over the vest pocket.
“Nah,” said Oscar, “only sometimes. Sometimes they get trashed.”
“Could I show you something just outside? It’s about a particular plate from 1982.”
Oscar went out to the LTD, following Roger. “Nice car,” he said.
Roger pointed out the 82-LTD plate. “Ever see one like this before?”
Oscar was walking around the car, nodding. “Nice survivor,” he said again. Then looked at the plate. “Looks familiar,” he said. “In fact, I think…c’mon back in.”
They went back into the office where Oscar peered around at the walls. He went to a corner and hoisted a tall stack of papers, Auto Trader issues and the like, from a table onto the floor. Then stood aside and pointed at the wall. “There ya go. Knew I’d seen it somewhere.”
Affixed to the wall where they’d been obscured by the stacks, Roger saw “82-LTD.” On a Massachusetts plate. And not one, but both.
“These came in a few years back,” said Oscar.
Roger managed to keep his voice steady as he asked what had become of the rest of the wreck.
“Can’t say for sure,” said Oscar, “but most likely went into the crusher. You looking for parts for yours?”
“Uh…sort of. Nothing specific.”
“Good plan,” Oscar nodded. “Have some spares on hand to keep it running. We don’t part out any more, but check eBay; you can find anything there. You might find something in here too.” He handed Roger his copy of Auto Trader. “Keep it, they’re free,” he said.
Roger was turning to leave when Oscar spoke up again. “You can have the plates for forty bucks. Everything’s for sale.”
On his drive home Roger kept glancing at the second set of plates on the seat beside him. Those were the real plates, the original ones. So where had the ones on the LTD come from?
