The Bench Racers Journal

[Terry Bentley]

Chapter 20

Thanks dad, that sounds great. A plate of chicken fried steak, heap of mash potatoes with gravy, and green beans sounds really good right now. I am starved. Good to see your appetite has not gone anywhere, dad says with a nice reassuring smile. Guess that is a good sign.

Steve asks if I am up to a short hike. He wants to take me on the other side of track where I had made my final stand earlier. Or should I say landing. I am still a little shakey, but after a few steps, loosened up a little and not so much of a problem. Just some soreness and a few bruises to deal with.

We make it across the track. He is telling me about where I was found laying face down, looking like I was reaching toward the light that was still laying there.

Steve is now walking away from me, searching all around. I ask what he is looking for. Nothing in particular, he says, just scoping out the area. I have known Steve long enough to tell when he is not being completely up front about things.

Oh wow, look here it is! Steve yells a little too excited. I drag myself over. Now starting to feel the pains a bit more. He picks up something and turns around to face me.

Does this look familiar? He asked. I look at a wheel. A front wheel after closer scrutiny. Standing next to him, I see it still has part of the front axle still attached. I then have a heavy feeling in my gut. Is that....? I asked him.

Yep, this is what is left of Mr Cates kart you so eloquently did a number on. Snapping back at Steve, I told him he sure knew how to make a guy feel good, not! He started laughing and said lets get out of here. Its should be about time to leave.

As we are walking back to the pits, all of the track lights go out. Yes its time to leave, Steve snickers. Doo-da-doo-do in the Twilight Zone theme. I will race you to the car, he said. Then takes off and leaves me behind. I continue on at my slow but comfortable pace in the darkness.

Just now realized there is no moon tonight and is really dark out here. At this slow but steady pace I limp back to the parking lot where dad is now waiting in the Ranchero with Steve already sitting inside.

I slide in and realize now my wrist is just a little sore while pulling the door closed. We head out of there on to the highway and in a few minutes exit at Buckner road then head toward the Circle Grill.

On the way I ask Steve about that wheel. Is it really from Mr Cates kart? Steve sort of ignores the question but does confirm that his mom said it was OK for him to spend the night.

My dad mentions that in another hour the sun would be getting ready to show itself, so might as well drop him off at home when we are finished eating. Steves response was more of disappointment and defeat in tone that actual intelligible verbiage.

Then dad says something about hanging around for hamburgers on the grill for lunch, if he was interested. Steve quickly brightened up and felt relieved.

As we pull in to the parking lot there is some clanking in the bed of Ranchero. It was empty earlier when we headed out to the track. I ask what is making the noise. My dad just mumbled something about some junk that needed to be hauled off. Oh, must be that part Steve picked up. But is Steve just messing with me, or was it related to the accident earlier? I sure hope not.

We stop in front of the Circle Grill and dad tells us to hurry up, get inside and find a table. Order drinks and he will park the truck. We shuffle out and I look back in the truck bed. But there is a tarp covering a pile of whatever is there.