Chapter 8 — The owner of the car shop behind the school gate

After the rain, the first thing the club fixed was not the roof but the recording.

The old board has swollen edges, the words are blurred into blue streaks. Vy suggested buying a new board. Khoa said that before buying, they need to know where the board will be placed so it won't get splashed by the rain. Huy measured the path, Quynh Chi asked if the short and tall users could read, Bao used a ruler and announced that he had become an engineer.

“Every engineer needs to write down the source of the ruler,” Quynh Chi said.

Bao looked at the ruler. “Source: borrowed from Ms. Van.”

Vy drew three options: standing board, hanging board and folding board. Standing boards are easy to move but can get in the way. Hanging panels are more durable but require wall drilling. Folding boards are cheap but can easily be flipped over by the wind. The group lets users vote, not based on the designer's feelings.

The results were in favor of the hanging board, but a wheelchair user said the hanging board was too high if you wanted to read the details. The team revised the design: a large title hung on the wall, a low guide placed on an inclined shelf. Vy likes the new plan because it's not as beautiful as the original, but easier to use.

“You are giving up the showroom,” Khoa said.

“I have never set up a showroom.”

“You once drew a plan with lights.”

“The lights are not bad.”

“Lights in the wrong place are bad.”

They bought plastic boards from a store near the school. The seller issues an invoice with the field name, quantity and type of material. Vy checked and discovered a line with two extra hangers. Bao said to just accept it because he would need it later. Khoa shook his head, saying the surplus is not free if there is no place to store it.

The seller agreed to correct the invoice. Vy thanks, seeing even a small change requires someone to clarify.

In the afternoon, the group created an official repair book. Each turn has a code, do not use the full name on the public board. There are error entries, instructions performed, parts used, inspector and vehicle status. The faculty explained that coding helps keep track without turning the student's vehicle into readable information for everyone.

Huy asked if he needed to save the phone number. Quynh Chi said she only saves the contact method chosen by the user; The phone number must be in the restricted access section. Vy has the right to delete information after the vehicle has been returned.

Bao asked what if the user returns the car and still wants to know the repair history. Khoa said he could provide a summary, no need to keep all the information forever. Vy notes: “Information exists for correction, not for hoarding.”

A 10th grader brought his car over and said the brakes were making noise but didn't want his friends to know because he was afraid of being teased. Khoa led you to a private corner, while Vy stood outside so as not to make you feel surrounded. After inspection, the only problem was worn brake pads. Khoa explained that you can replace it with used parts in good condition or wait to buy new ones. You choose the old one because you want to go home early.

Vy asks if you agree to record the repair in the book. You nodded, but asked not to record the class. Quynh Chi created her own code. Vy understands that transparency does not mean making everything public.

On weekends, the club holds a “ten minutes with the car” session. Participants learn how to check tires, brakes, chains and lights. Ms. Van requested that students not be allowed to remove dangerous parts without an adult. The Faculty prepared four old cars for practice.

Vy is in charge of the opening part. She stood in front of twelve students, talked about checking before leaving, and then mistakenly gave a hexagon. Bao below raised his hand.

“Miss, you got it wrong.”

Vy turned down. “What do you call me?”

“Mistress of the hexagon.”

Quynh Chi typed in board. “Just name it.”

Vy changed tools. "She's right. If you want to fix it well, you have to admit you got it wrong."

Khoa looked at her, a fleeting smile. “This sentence should be hung up.”

“You make the board.”

“I'm in charge of the car.”

“Then leave it to Bao.”

Bao immediately wrote: "Holding it by mistake is not shameful, hiding it is dangerous." The group agreed, then posted that sentence next to the equipment board.

The orientation session had an incident. One person used too much force and broke the valve head. No one was injured, but the vehicle's tires could not be inflated. Phuc— Khoa corrected himself in his head, then felt funny because he had never called him by that name—was not present in that moment because he was helping another friend.

Vy immediately turned off the practice area, checked everyone's hands and recorded it. She doesn't blame you. She asks what steps you followed, what made you use force. You said you were afraid the valve wouldn't open, so you tried. Khoa is back, showing you how to recognize a stuck valve and when to stop.

After the session, Vy wanted to remove the valve practice part from the program. Faculty objected. “If you quit because of a mistake, the next person won't learn how to avoid mistakes.”

“But the instructions must be changed.”

"Correct."

They added illustrations, reduced the force needed, and placed an observer nearby. Vy recorded the incident in the report, including how to prevent it. Ms. Van read it and said that such a report is more useful than a report that only says "successful class".

On the way home, Vy met her father in the parking lot. He went to school to attend a meeting with the board of directors. Dad looked at the new board and asked who designed it. Vy said to the group. He asked her if he needed him to recommend a supplier of higher quality boards.

"No need. This table meets the needs."

“Are you sure?”

“I have the data.”

Dad looked at the board, where a short student could read the instructions. He did not object, just said that the meeting about the back gate area would have company representatives.

“Can I attend?” Vy asked.

“As a student, if the school invites you.”

“And as your daughter?”

"Are not."

Vy nodded. “Then I will apply for a school.”

Father looked at her, seemingly wanting to say more. In the end, he just reminded her not to come home late. Vy looked at the board, then looked at the garage. She knew something big was coming, but first they still had to inventory the hangers and return the correct ruler they had borrowed.

The group's new notebook has eight post-rain check items. Vy is in charge of the roof, Khoa is in charge of electricity, Huy is in charge of the information panel, Quynh Chi is in charge of data access. Each item has before and after photos. No one can mark "fine" without clearly stating where they looked.

During the first inspection, Vy found a broken hanger. Huy told him to leave it, but a junior classmate asked to keep it because he could use it as a keychain. Khoa says yes, as long as you sharpen the tip and clearly state not to hang heavy objects. Vy realized that the classification of "junk" or "usable" should be based on the situation, not the appearance.

Quynh Chi discovered a comment form that allows senders to upload photos freely. She was worried that the photo might contain a student's face or a license plate number. They changed it to an option, adding instructions to hide identifying information. Huy established a process to delete original photos once the report was confirmed.

“Do we need to do it so carefully?” one member asked.

Quynh Chi replied: "If your photos were moved to another place, you would want them to do it carefully."

Khoa tries a “ten minute session with your car”. Not everyone who comes wants to fix it; Some people just ask how to lock the car, how to pump at the correct pressure, and how to recognize frayed brake lines. One person thought the cake was soft because The tire failed, but it turned out the pressure was low due to being left out in the sun.

Vy instructed her to read the parameters printed on the side of the tire. She didn't say a single number, because tire type, weight, and road surface are all different. Khoa nodded, saying a conditional answer was more trustworthy than a viral tip.

Huy recorded an instructional video, then deleted it because he felt his voice sounded too much like an advertisement. He recorded it again, speaking slowly, pointing to each part, without using background music. Quynh Chi asked him to add a warning not to fix it himself when the brake line broke. Videos are shorter but more useful.

The day Vy's father stopped by the garage, he looked at the inspection sheet. He asked who was responsible if an item was overlooked. Vy speaks to the whole group, but each item has one person to check first. He asked why not give it to the best person. Khoa replied that if only good people were tested, the system would lose that person and stop.

Father looked at Khoa, then nodded. He didn't ask what class he was in, just asked a question about the sensor light. Khoa explained that the sensor can turn off when the user stands still, so a hand switch is still needed. Vy added it to the board.

Before leaving, his father gave Vy a laser ruler. She refused to take it personally. She asked if it could be recorded in common property, with the serial number, warranty and where to keep it. He agreed. Huy immediately labeled it: "School property - sponsored without advertising."

Vy looked at the new ruler next to the old wrench. They do not make each other more luxurious. But both have value when used properly.

Huy suggested writing the ruler's number on the asset list. Vy did it immediately, then discovered there was no place to record the inspection date. Khoa drilled a small piece of wood and hung it next to it. Vy's father saw it and said the company often uses software for this. Vy said the paper board helps people who don't have an account to still check.

He nodded, not trying to persuade. She realized that a good item does not devalue the old way; it just opens one more option.

Khoa asked if the ruler would make the group forget the tape measure. Vy said no, because each type gives a different type of information. He nodded, placed both on the shelf and wrote the use under each one.