Head Over Heels by Gail Sattler

I’m out I’ll pick them up, and that way we’ll get a discount. See you soon.”

Chapter Five
    â€œW hat are you doing?” Marielle yelled over the sound of the drill.
    â€œI’m making a hole,” Russ said as he pushed down until he was all the way through the table. “This is much neater, to have the cables go through instead of stringing everything along the table and over back. But this is really to make sure everything stays put.”
    She watched as he tore open a package and, using the special glue, fastened a metal loop to the side of one of the monitors.
    He turned to the teens who were watching every move he made, and said to Jason, “I’m still feeling a little banged up. Can you crawl under the table and stick this on the side of the tower?”
    As he dotted the glue onto the flat section, Marielle stared at the hole in the table. “These are our banquet tables. When there’s a special occasion, we use theseupstairs. I was going to just put the computers on the floor when we need the table.”
    â€œNot anymore. This is now a dedicated computer table. I’m dedicating a second one on Monday, and they’re not moving. I’ve already talked to Pastor Tom. I’m donating two new tables, so you won’t be short. I don’t feel good not having the computers secure.”
    He bent down to watch Jason attach the looped metal piece to the right spot. “Okay, Jason, unplug everything, will you?”
    She stood back as Russ pulled all the cables up from the back of the table, then fed everything plus a plastic-covered chain back down through the hole. While lying on the floor, Jason plugged everything back in, fed the chain through the metal loop, now firmly attached to the case of the tower, then poked the end of the chain back up through the hole. Russ put the chain through the loop attached to the monitor and fastened both ends of the chain together with a small padlock.
    â€œThere. When they’re all done, the only way these computers are going anywhere is to put everything below up onto the table, and carry everything out at once, and not through a window, but through a wide, double door. I can guarantee you that if a couple of thieves were to walk down the street carrying a banquet table with five computers strapped to it, they would attract attention.” He paused and rested his hands on his hips. “Although, I wonder if it’s possible to chain the table to the wall….”
    â€œThis is good enough,” Marielle said.
    â€œOkay.” Russ smiled, picked up the drill and revved it in the air. “One down, four more to go.”
    She expected to hear a Tim “The Toolman” Taylor grunt along with the noise of the drill, but it wasn’t forthcoming.
    Now that all the teens knew what they were doing, everyone wanted to help, but they only succeeded in getting in everyone else’s way, especially since each had a piece of pizza in one hand and was eating while working. Russ showed considerable patience in letting them all do something, but it was slow going.
    When the process was finished, a couple of the girls straightened and aligned everything on top of the table, and one boy swept up the wood shavings.
    â€œOkay,” Marielle called. “Enough time inside. Everybody out!”
    Russ watched the teens file outside. “Out?”
    â€œWe play basketball every Friday night, weather permitting. Some of these girls are pretty good, and they’re all pretty tough when backed into a corner.”
    He frowned. “I don’t doubt that. Tell me, what are you doing here, in this neighborhood? You don’t seem like you belong here.”
    â€œA few years ago, there was a fire in my apartment building. Everyone got out okay and there was minimal damage to most of the suites, but they had to close the building for a few weeks for inspections, repairs, and then to get out the smell of