11-25-2019, 10:18 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-10-2022, 12:49 AM by Terry Bentley.)
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Chapter 3
School tortured me for the next few weeks. I tried to focus on the work and managed to keep my grades up on the report card. Finally Easter was approaching and we would be off a whole week for spring break. It was Friday afternoon and all I could think about was when the April issue of Karting World would arrive. It seemed like four years instead of weeks since the last issue arrived.
I was waiting in the front yard for that little Cushman three wheeled mail truck to drive up. there is a familiar chug chug sound getting louder and looking to the left as the mail truck made a right turn up hill stopping in front of the house. I run out to greet him, and he gives me a disappointed look. Sorry son, dont have the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes today, he sounded with a smirk in his voice. Then handed me a small bundled up stack of envelopes. I quickly fished thru them and let out a big sigh, not finding the prize my eyes were trying to locate.
The postman then started to drive off. Before pulling away, he handed me one last item. He winked at me and said, Oh yea, I almost forgot. Is this what you were expecting? I grabbed it up, said thanks and already half way up the driveway headed for the front door before he even got started to drive off.
No sooner had I walked in, mom made it clear to get my homework done, NOW, so I wouldnt be doing it Sunday night before going back to school. I said its spring break and didnt have any homework. She looked deep in my eyes, like only a mother can do, and asked me if she needed to call my teacher. How does she do that? How does she always know? After caving in said, I would get started immediately on the book report due when I went back.
I started thinking how neat it would be to do a report on karting. Now that would be the kind of homework I could really enjoy. I thought about getting in front of the class and doing my oral presentation on racing. I bet I could have every kid in class at least considering to try out racing karts by the time the report was finished. How easy it would be giving all of the information to them about what I had found out and wanted to do. I could probably talk for the entire length of class about racing.
Then back down to reality. Remembering just how much I really hated doing any type of speaking, especially in front of a class full of fellow students. Why was that? Why is it so difficult to get in front of a group of my peers and give a presentation about a book or subject. Why was it so easy to talk about racing, but would prefer having a bad case of poison ivy all over my body before doing a book report on some lame subject. Well, the April issue of Karting World will have to wait a few hours, until all of the homework is done. I guess better getting it out of the way instead of pulling an all nighter next Sunday before having to go back to school.
Chapter 4
Wow, its already dark outside, and this stupid report is not even half finished. Man I wanted to sit back and read thru the April issue. Mom caught me earlier just as I opened the cover to start reading it. She took it away and said it would be available after the homework was finished and only if she approved of the report. Hey, mom is calling. Its time for dinner. Great, at least I can blow this off for a little while.
At the table my thoughts were focused on what was new in the magazine. Get a grip, just finish that report so I can read thru it tonite. Dad breaks my trance. Terry? Earth to Terry. Huh? Oh, yes sir? I popped out of my daze. You need to get to sleep soon as your homework is finished. Your grannys yard is in need of maintenance, so tomorrow morning you will be going there to mow and clean up around the place.
Oh, man, this isnt fair, I held under my breath. What was that? My dad quizzed me. Nothing sir. Didnt sound like nothing to me, he stormed back. No sir, Is there anything else that needs to be done after the yard is finished? All the time looking down at my plate poking English peas with a fork, trying not to make eye contact. Yes there is. When you are done, you will be coming with me for the afternoon. I have some plans and you are cordially invited.
Oh, man, do I have to? I was hoping to....He interrupted me and replied in that "its not really a choice" response. No you dont have to go tomorrow, just like you dont have to eat dinner tonite. Would you prefer to skip dinner and get back to your homework right now? No, sir. I replied in a very surrendered tone. He always had his way of making sure I understood. It was late when I finished my book report.
Sure glad I didnt wait until next Sunday nite to do that. Woh! Did I just have a responsible moment there? Maybe Steve was right about turning 13. Is this whats in store for me when I grow up? A cold shudder went thru my body. I would have put this report off, probably up until class started if given half the chance. But without too much resistance I actually caved in, accepted my fate and did it without dragging it on all night long. Just took all evening instead.
Sleep sure sounds good right now. My brain is not accustomed to this much reasoning in one day. Night slipped by and morning came fast bringing heavy eyelids when that alarm went off. Crammed down some cereal and glass of milk, then off on my bike to grannys. I remember like it was yesterday. It was just a month before my 13th birthday. My grandfather was in the hospital again for his heart. He died in his sleep, I guess from another attack. He had been hospitalized several times in the last few years for the same, and I didnt think too much about it.
Mom broke the news to me and I really didnt know how to react. Right after the funeral, my grandmother embraced me crying when she spoke out between gasps "You grandfather wont be here for your next birthday". With her arms wrapped tightly around me and tears she just shed, left me in an extremely vulnerable state. There was nothing I could do but break down for the first time since I was told of his passing. It didnt have anything to do with him missing my birthday. It was just time for me to get it out of my system, to accept death of someone close to me as part of life and growing up.
No sooner had I completely broken down in tears, my grandmother straightened up and walked away, like nothing had even happened. How can adults do that? There are such strong deep felt emotions, I have no control over right now, and she turned hers off like a water faucet. Man growing up is getting to be very complicated. I had not really talked much to my grandfather about racing. Actually dont think I even mentioned it to him. But right now there is a hollowed out empty feeling in my stomach. I never even thought about him not being there to watch me after I started racing. Just assumed it would be that way because....
Chapter 3
School tortured me for the next few weeks. I tried to focus on the work and managed to keep my grades up on the report card. Finally Easter was approaching and we would be off a whole week for spring break. It was Friday afternoon and all I could think about was when the April issue of Karting World would arrive. It seemed like four years instead of weeks since the last issue arrived.
I was waiting in the front yard for that little Cushman three wheeled mail truck to drive up. there is a familiar chug chug sound getting louder and looking to the left as the mail truck made a right turn up hill stopping in front of the house. I run out to greet him, and he gives me a disappointed look. Sorry son, dont have the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes today, he sounded with a smirk in his voice. Then handed me a small bundled up stack of envelopes. I quickly fished thru them and let out a big sigh, not finding the prize my eyes were trying to locate.
The postman then started to drive off. Before pulling away, he handed me one last item. He winked at me and said, Oh yea, I almost forgot. Is this what you were expecting? I grabbed it up, said thanks and already half way up the driveway headed for the front door before he even got started to drive off.
No sooner had I walked in, mom made it clear to get my homework done, NOW, so I wouldnt be doing it Sunday night before going back to school. I said its spring break and didnt have any homework. She looked deep in my eyes, like only a mother can do, and asked me if she needed to call my teacher. How does she do that? How does she always know? After caving in said, I would get started immediately on the book report due when I went back.
I started thinking how neat it would be to do a report on karting. Now that would be the kind of homework I could really enjoy. I thought about getting in front of the class and doing my oral presentation on racing. I bet I could have every kid in class at least considering to try out racing karts by the time the report was finished. How easy it would be giving all of the information to them about what I had found out and wanted to do. I could probably talk for the entire length of class about racing.
Then back down to reality. Remembering just how much I really hated doing any type of speaking, especially in front of a class full of fellow students. Why was that? Why is it so difficult to get in front of a group of my peers and give a presentation about a book or subject. Why was it so easy to talk about racing, but would prefer having a bad case of poison ivy all over my body before doing a book report on some lame subject. Well, the April issue of Karting World will have to wait a few hours, until all of the homework is done. I guess better getting it out of the way instead of pulling an all nighter next Sunday before having to go back to school.
Chapter 4
Wow, its already dark outside, and this stupid report is not even half finished. Man I wanted to sit back and read thru the April issue. Mom caught me earlier just as I opened the cover to start reading it. She took it away and said it would be available after the homework was finished and only if she approved of the report. Hey, mom is calling. Its time for dinner. Great, at least I can blow this off for a little while.
At the table my thoughts were focused on what was new in the magazine. Get a grip, just finish that report so I can read thru it tonite. Dad breaks my trance. Terry? Earth to Terry. Huh? Oh, yes sir? I popped out of my daze. You need to get to sleep soon as your homework is finished. Your grannys yard is in need of maintenance, so tomorrow morning you will be going there to mow and clean up around the place.
Oh, man, this isnt fair, I held under my breath. What was that? My dad quizzed me. Nothing sir. Didnt sound like nothing to me, he stormed back. No sir, Is there anything else that needs to be done after the yard is finished? All the time looking down at my plate poking English peas with a fork, trying not to make eye contact. Yes there is. When you are done, you will be coming with me for the afternoon. I have some plans and you are cordially invited.
Oh, man, do I have to? I was hoping to....He interrupted me and replied in that "its not really a choice" response. No you dont have to go tomorrow, just like you dont have to eat dinner tonite. Would you prefer to skip dinner and get back to your homework right now? No, sir. I replied in a very surrendered tone. He always had his way of making sure I understood. It was late when I finished my book report.
Sure glad I didnt wait until next Sunday nite to do that. Woh! Did I just have a responsible moment there? Maybe Steve was right about turning 13. Is this whats in store for me when I grow up? A cold shudder went thru my body. I would have put this report off, probably up until class started if given half the chance. But without too much resistance I actually caved in, accepted my fate and did it without dragging it on all night long. Just took all evening instead.
Sleep sure sounds good right now. My brain is not accustomed to this much reasoning in one day. Night slipped by and morning came fast bringing heavy eyelids when that alarm went off. Crammed down some cereal and glass of milk, then off on my bike to grannys. I remember like it was yesterday. It was just a month before my 13th birthday. My grandfather was in the hospital again for his heart. He died in his sleep, I guess from another attack. He had been hospitalized several times in the last few years for the same, and I didnt think too much about it.
Mom broke the news to me and I really didnt know how to react. Right after the funeral, my grandmother embraced me crying when she spoke out between gasps "You grandfather wont be here for your next birthday". With her arms wrapped tightly around me and tears she just shed, left me in an extremely vulnerable state. There was nothing I could do but break down for the first time since I was told of his passing. It didnt have anything to do with him missing my birthday. It was just time for me to get it out of my system, to accept death of someone close to me as part of life and growing up.
No sooner had I completely broken down in tears, my grandmother straightened up and walked away, like nothing had even happened. How can adults do that? There are such strong deep felt emotions, I have no control over right now, and she turned hers off like a water faucet. Man growing up is getting to be very complicated. I had not really talked much to my grandfather about racing. Actually dont think I even mentioned it to him. But right now there is a hollowed out empty feeling in my stomach. I never even thought about him not being there to watch me after I started racing. Just assumed it would be that way because....