Wheels in the Workshop

Katya hid a box behind the oil drum in the maintenance room. In the box was a pair of skates.

They were bright yellow, with soft white wheels. She bought them on Monday for Radha.

Radha worked on the cable cars too. Every night, she checked the brakes and the long steel cables.

Katya liked her very much. But she was too shy to say it.

Radha loved to skate. She talked about it all the time.

"At home, I skate in my kitchen," Radha told her once. "My neighbours hate it."

Katya laughed, and an idea came to her. That night, she made a plan.

Her plan was simple. After work, she wanted to take Radha up to the top station. The square up there was wide and smooth. It had soft lights and a view of the whole town. She wanted to give Radha the skates. Then she wanted to skate with her under the stars.

On Friday, Katya came to work early. She checked the box three times. It was still behind the oil drum.

At eight o'clock, she found Radha near the big wheel. Radha wrote numbers on a clipboard.

"Radha, can you stay late tonight?" Katya asked.

"Sure," said Radha. "Is something wrong?"

"No. I want to show you something at the top," Katya said. Her voice sounded strange.

Radha smiled. "Okay. I like a good surprise."

The plan was perfect. Then the night supervisor came in.

"Bad news," he said. "The line stops now. One cabin has a loose bolt."

Katya felt sick. "Which cabin?"

"Number four. Somebody must fix it before morning."

"We can do it," Radha said at once. "Right, Katya?"

Katya wanted to cry. But she nodded. A cable car is not a toy. A loose bolt is a danger.

They worked for two hours. The cabin hung in the middle of the room. It was high above the floor. Radha held the lamp. Katya turned the wrench.

The bolt was old and stiff. It did not want to move. At last, it gave a small click.

"Done," said Katya. She felt tired and sad.

"Good work," Radha said. "Now, what did you want to show me?"

Katya looked at the clock. It was ten at night. The last cabin was gone. The top station was dark.

"Nothing," she said. "It was a silly idea."

Radha looked at her for a long moment. "Katya, you hid a box behind the oil drum. I saw it on Monday."

"You saw it?" Katya asked.

"I am a good engineer. I see everything," said Radha. "I did not look inside. I promise."

Katya sat down on a tool box. Then she began to laugh. She could not stop.

"It is a pair of skates," she said. "I wanted to take you to the square. I wanted a nice night for you."

Radha sat next to her. "That is the kindest thing anyone ever planned for me."

"But the plan is dead," said Katya. "The line is closed."

Radha looked around the room. Her eyes went from the floor to the walls and back again.

"Katya, how long is this room?" she asked.

"About forty metres. Why?"

"And how smooth is the floor?"

"Very smooth. I clean it every week." Katya stopped. "Wait. You mean…"

"I mean we do not need the square," Radha said. "We have a floor right here."

They jumped up. Together they pushed the tool carts against the wall. They rolled the oil drum into a corner. Radha swept the floor with a wide broom. Katya looked for lamps.

She found six work lamps and a long orange cable. She hung the lamps on the hooks above the cabins. Warm yellow light filled the room. The big wheel stood still in the shadows. It looked like a huge clock.

"It looks like a dance hall," said Radha.

"It looks like a workshop," Katya said.

"A very beautiful workshop."

Katya went to the oil drum and picked up the box. Her hands shook a little. She gave it to Radha.

Radha opened it. For a moment, she said nothing. Then she lifted one skate and touched a wheel.

"They are my size," she whispered. "How did you know?"

"I looked at your work boots," said Katya. "When you were not near."

Radha laughed. It was a happy, loud laugh, and it filled the room.

"Sit down," said Radha. "I will put on my skates. And then I will help you with yours."

"I do not have skates," Katya said. "I only bought one pair."

"Of course you did," said Radha. She smiled. "Then we have a problem."

Katya thought for a second. Then she looked at the tool carts. They had four wheels each, and a strong flat top.

"Not a problem," she said. "I have an idea."

She pulled a cart into the middle of the floor. She stood behind it and held the handle with both hands.

"This is my skate," said Katya. "It is slow, but it is safe."

Radha put on her new skates and tied the laces. She stood up slowly. The floor was smooth, and the wheels were quiet. She took one step, then another.

"They roll so well," she said. She sounded like a child on a birthday.

She made a small circle around the oil drum. Then she made a big circle around the cabins. The lamps showed her shadow on the wall. Katya watched her and did not speak.

On the third circle, Radha stopped in front of her.

"Katya, come out from behind that cart," she said.

"I can't skate," said Katya. "I will fall."

"Then we fall together." Radha held out both hands.

Katya looked at the hands. She looked at Radha's face. Then she let go of the cart.

She took Radha's hands, and they rolled slowly across the floor.