Ch. 37: The Dawn of the Repair Shop

The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the room. Jon, having slept soundly, made his way to the main hall of the house. He found Chris, who had spent the night on their sofa, seemingly in a state of half-sleep. His body was still, his eyes closed, and his breathing steady.

"Jon!" Chris's voice broke the silence, causing Jon to jump slightly. He had been on his way to the kitchen, assuming Chris was still asleep.

"Good morning, Chris," Jon replied, trying to hide his surprise. "You startled me."

Chris chuckled, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. "I can see that. So, what's next for you, Jon?" he asked, his tone serious. "You missed the interview, and Annie won't let you near the company for another one anytime soon. What's your plan?"

Jon knew this conversation was inevitable. Chris had always been supportive, but he also knew that part of the reason he hadn't married Annie was his lack of a stable job. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before answering.

"Actually, Chris," Jon began, "I've been considering opening a repair shop. I have the certificate and some experience. It might be a good fit."

Chris's eyes lit up at the idea. "A repair shop, huh? That's not a bad idea at all!" He turned to face Jon, and the smell of alcohol wafted from him.

"The beauty of owning a repair shop is that you're your own boss. You reap the rewards of your hard work," Chris said, his voice tinged with bitterness. "You know how our band came together, right?"

Jon nodded, leaning in to listen. Chris began to recount the stories of their band members, each one a tale of struggle and defiance. Alberton, the introverted music company employee who was ousted due to office politics. Ferrante, the outspoken rebel who was fired for standing up to his boss. Lenny, who had been stifled by a religious and restrictive boss. And Lilian, the talented girl whose career was derailed by a horrific incident.

Jon listened, his heart heavy with the weight of their stories. He understood now why Chris held such resentment for bosses and corporations. He himself had been a victim of corporate politics, his music stolen and his reputation tarnished.

"But you know what, Jon?" Chris said, breaking Jon out of his thoughts. "Despite everything, we found our way. We didn't let those bastards break us. We came together and made something of our own."

Jon nodded, a newfound respect for Chris and his bandmates welling up within him. "I remember when I first met you, Chris," he said, a smile playing on his lips. "Annie, Ayla, and I were on our way to the park, and we saw you practicing in that little shop by the street."

Chris laughed, a genuine, hearty laugh. "Ah, yes. Annie did call me stupid for that. She said we should've rented a basement instead of disturbing the peace."

"But you know what, Jon?" Chris said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "We didn't rent that shop. We bought it. And that's where we found our voice, amidst the noise and the chaos. That's where we became a band."

Jon was taken aback. He had always assumed they had rented the place. "You bought it?" he asked, incredulous.

Chris nodded, a proud smile on his face. "Yes, we did. And that's what I want for you, Jon. I want you to find your place, your voice. And if opening a repair shop is what you want, then I say go for it. Make it your own."

Jon felt a surge of gratitude towards Chris. He was right. It was time for him to take control of his life, to carve out his own path. And with that thought, the idea of the repair shop didn't seem so daunting anymore. It felt like a new beginning, a chance to start afresh.

And so, with the dawn of a new day, the idea of the repair shop was born. It was more than just a business venture; it was a symbol of defiance, of resilience, and of hope. It was a testament to the fact that no matter how many times life knocked you down, you could always get back up and start anew. And with that thought, Jon felt ready to face whatever the future held for him.

***

A few days later, Jon's repair shop swung open its doors for the first time. The location was the same place Chris and his band used to practice, a place filled with memories and music. Now, it was a place of new beginnings.

The location was perfect. Nestled amidst restaurants and entertainment venues, it was a hub of activity, ensuring a steady stream of potential customers. And the best part? There were no other repair shops in sight.

The first customer to walk through the door was none other than Ferrante, the guitarist from Diamond. He sauntered in, a large guitar case in hand.

"Hey, Jon," Ferrante greeted, a grin on his face. "Heard you're the new fix-it guy in town."

He opened the case, revealing a guitar that had clearly seen better days. "This old thing's been out of tune for years. I've taken it to several professionals, but none of them could figure out what's wrong. Thought I'd give you a shot."

Jon took the guitar, his fingers tracing over the worn wood. It was an antique, a relic from a bygone era. "This is quite the collector's item, Ferrante. Ever thought about replacing it?"

Ferrante laughed, shaking his head. "I've got plenty of new ones, Jon. But it's this old one that holds the most value. You wouldn't understand, you're not an artist."

Jon chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Fair enough. I'll need some time to figure out what's wrong. Can you leave it here and I'll get back to you tomorrow?"

Ferrante agreed, then asked about the cost. Jon, ever the generous friend, offered to do it for free. But Ferrante wouldn't hear of it.

"No way, Jon. If Chris finds out I took advantage of you, he'll have my head. We'll settle the cost once you've fixed it."

Jon laughed, agreeing to Ferrante's terms. "Alright, Ferrante. I'll let you know once it's done."

With a nod and a wave, Ferrante left, leaving Jon alone with the antique guitar. As he looked around his new shop, he felt a sense of accomplishment. This was his place, his venture. And he was ready to make it a success.

As the day wore on, more customers trickled in, each with their own items in need of repair. And with each successful repair, Jon's confidence grew. He was doing it. He was running his own business.

And as he closed the shop at the end of the day, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had taken the first step towards carving out his own path, and he was excited to see where it would lead.

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A/N: I know this work is still very new, but your opinions matter a lot to my progress, please write a review 🙏.

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