CHAPTER 31 32
225
230
235
240
245
250
255
260
265
270
275
“ I’ ll sit this one out,” Eddie said.“ Blue!” Justin yelled and headed for the car.“ Green,” Nicole said.“ I usually drive the red one,” Sam said to Tanya. Tanya thought driving the yellow race car was just fine.“ Helmets are a must,” Sam said indicating the rack of black headgear.“ Eddie would you please start the cars while we get ready?” Sam asked.
Eddie read the large laminated sign that held instructions for operating the mini Indy cars. The, specially equipped, half inch drill hung on the wall. Eddie turned over each engine. An exhaust fan came on when the doors opened and expelled the fumes from the powerful snowmobile engines. Blue smoke poured from the tail pipes until they warmed. Eddie helped the drivers with the six point cross harnesses in the low cockpits of each car.“ How fast will these go?” Eddie asked, as he paused at Sam’ s car.“ They are governed to eighty. But it feels so much faster. Fifteen laps,” Sam said, and pointed at the green, white and checkered flags on the wall. The procession was led by Sam. Eddie took the flags and drove the golf cart to the track. After getting them in starting position, Eddie gave instructions for two warm up laps, then he wanted them in two rows of two cars at the green flag. Justin was given pole position with Nicole next to him in the first row. Tanya had the inside behind Justin in the second row. Sam was on the outside. On the first warm up lap Sam passed them quickly. Justin followed her line. Eddie could see the concentration on his face. As they came around the final curve of the second lap, they slowed and took their starting formation. Eddie stood near the edge of the track. The checkered line was three rows of four inch square, black and white pavers set into concrete track. He raised the green flag as they approached. Eddie waved the flag and it was game on. Justin and Nicole had no fear.
The cars were evenly matched and it took Sam three laps to pass Justin. He watched the line Sam drove and tried to replicate it as best as possible. He was closing the gap when Eddie waved the white flag. His front wheels were at Sam’ s back wheels as Eddie waved the checkered flag. Nicole was a few car lengths back and Tanya was half a lap behind. The initial pace caught Tanya by surprise and she was never able to fully recover, but she was determined not to be lapped.
The four racers parked their cars in the garage. Eddie shut down the engines as the drivers extricated themselves from the narrow cockpits.“ That was so cool. Can we do that again? May I invite Ryan over?” Justin asked. Sam smiled.“ I would expect some of your friends might like to come and race on your track at the wheels of our cars,” she said, driving home the point with style. Justin was on board for the move. Next week would be just fine with him.“ If we are going to be living here, what do you want me to call you Mrs. Evans?” Justin asked.“ Everyone calls me Sam. But I would like it if your friends knew me as Aunt Samantha.”“ Aunt Sam sounds transsexual,” Justin stated seriously.“ Yes it does,” Sam laughed and hugged him.“ I have the best aunt in the world,” Justin said, looking into her green eyes. He watched a tear roll down her cheek.“ Thank you,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. She had to stand on her tip toes to reach the tall teenager. The color rose in his cheeks again. She used her thumb to gently remove the red lip impression.“ Can’ t have your girlfriend see that,” she said.“ I don’ t have one,” he said quietly.“ You had one at the haunted house.”“ That was Mr. Melling’ s daughter.”“ She was holding onto you,” Sam pointed out.“ She was scared.”“ She was pretending to be scared. She didn’ t exactly let go afterward, and I don’ t blame her,” Sam argued and turned to Tanya.“ When was the last time you told your son how handsome he is?” she asked. Tanya looked at her son and tried to remember if the last year or two produced the compliment. It was not that she had not thought about the fact that he was growing into a fine young man. She also understood all mothers thought their sons were handsome. The statement coming from Sam would be held in higher regard.