Pole Position

by H. M. Montes

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  This book contains material protected under The International and Federal Copyright Laws and treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

  H.M. Montes (Author) Copyright 2014

  ~ Pole Position ~

  **WARNING: This book contains adult content, explicit language, and sexual situations.**

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, sponsors, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, dead or living, is coincidental.

  The opinions expressed in this book are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of IMCA, its employees, or its representatives, teams, and drivers within the series. The car numbers used within this book are not representing those drivers who use those numbers either past or present in any IMCA series and are used for the purpose of this fiction story only. The author does not endorse any product, driver, or other material racing in IMCA. The opinions in this work of fiction are simply that, opinions and should not be held liable for any product purchase, and or effect of any racing series based on those opinions.

  “Daddy, pretty please I ain’t missed a race ever, please daddy let me go with you!” I sobbed as my dad knelt down in front of me.

  “Chassis Brinn you listen to me, you know that I would never make you stay home sweetie but, you’ve got the chicken pox and had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. You can’t go racing with us tonight because if you get dirt in your sores, you’ll get a really bad infection. I promise, when we come home I will come wake you up and let you see the trophy.” My dad told me and pulled me into his strong arms “You behave for your momma tonight, then tomorrow I’ll let you help me put the car in the shop, I’ll let you roll all the tires if you want.”

  I sobbed against daddy’s shoulder, “It’s not fair daddy, I haven’t even touched a chicken and that medicine the doctor gave me was supposed to taste like bubble gum mommy said.” I sobbed some more.

  My dad’s deep laugh made me giggle, “Baby girl, I will explain what chicken pox are to you tomorrow okay? But right now I have to leave, I promise I’ll wake you up when I get home.” He said then hugged me and kissed the top of my head.

  “Bye daddy, kick butt and take names later. I love you!”

  He squeezed me again, “Thank you baby girl, I love you too.” He said. He stood up kissed mom on the lips, “I love you momma, I’ll see you girls when I get home.” He told us then walked out the door.

  After daddy left, momma told me I needed to take a baking soda bath to help stop the itch from the chicken pox. “Mommy, do all five year old girls get the chicken pox? Or is this because I let that boy hold my hand at recess the other day, do I have boy coodies?” I asked.

  She laughed and rinsed my hair, “No baby, boy coodies are way different.” She told me, then held my favorite checkered flag towel out for me then wrapped me up. She put some lotion on me that smelled like peaches and apples then had me put my pajamas on. Daddy had bought me a pair of pink and white checkered pajamas with his race car number “2” printed in the center. Mommy and I laid down in my bed, I listened as she read me a story.

  Before I fell asleep I looked at her, “Promise to wake me up when daddy gets home momma.” I told her. “I promise sweetie.” She told me then kissed my head as we both fell asleep.

  ~~~~

  I woke up the next morning, mommy wasn’t in my bedroom so I figured she was in her and daddies bedroom. I went in there, daddy wasn’t in there and neither was mommy.

  “DADDY, I’m SO MAD at you, you were supposed to wake me up REMEMBER?” I yelled as I ran down the stairs. Normally mommy and daddy would be sitting at the table eating breakfast before we left to go to church. When I got down stairs my mom was sitting at the table crying as my Uncle John, Uncle Mike, and their wives hugged each other. “Mommy” I said looking from her to all the big people in the room “Where’s daddy? He didn’t wake me up.” I said with my hands on my hips. My mom let out another sob, her shoulders shook as she cried.

  My Uncle John knelt down in front of me, “Chassis sweetie…” he said with tears in his eyes, “Your daddy was in a wreck at the race track last night…” tears started rolling down his cheeks;

  “WHERE IS MY DADDY?” I yelled.

  Uncle John pulled me tight against his chest, “He’s not coming home baby girl.” He told me as he hugged me tighter.

  I heard my mom let out another cry as the other wives surrounded her and hugged her. “What do you mean daddy isn’t coming home?” I asked as tears started to form in my eyes.

  Uncle John didn’t say anything for a few seconds then with a sob he swallowed hard, “Baby your daddy…he uh…his wreck was really bad…they tried baby girl…” he said then started crying.

  My Uncle Mike knelt down beside me, “Chassis baby…” he started to say.

  “Daddy died in a wreck at the dirt track didn’t he? That’s why he’s not coming home, isn’t it?” I asked as tears started fall down my cheeks. They both nodded their heads yes. I ran to by bedroom, slammed the door, threw myself onto the bed and cried.

  Chassis

  (Thirteen Years Later)

  “Chassis Brinn Heart, get your butt in gear young lady!” My mom yelled from down stairs.

  “COMING MOM!”

  “That’s what you said twenty minutes ago, you’re going to be late for your graduation if you don’t hurry up!” she yelled back.

  Checking over myself one last time, my black hair was pulled up into a high pony tail, checkered flag bling head band in place along with my checkered flag earrings. Ripped blue jeans and my IMCA Racing tank top paired with my black Converse shoes that ended just below my knees.

  “Are you really wearing that Chassis? Would it kill you to dress up just once?” Mom asked from the doorway of my bedroom.

  “Prom requires me to dress up mom, this is my high school graduation I see no reason to get all dolled up.” I told her.

  She walked over to me, resting her hands on my shoulders, “Your dad would be so proud of you, you know that right?”

  “I know mom, and he wouldn’t be telling me to dress up either.” I said with a smile.

  She laughed and rolled her eyes, “You’re so much like him. Are you sure you have to leave for college after the ceremony?” she asked as we walked out of my bedroom and started walking down stairs.

  “Yes mom, I have to be there by tomorrow morning, it’s part of the Sports Medicine program requirements. I have to be there as the football players start their summer training for the season. Plus maybe I’ll find me a young stud that looks good in tight pants chasing around a little brown ball.” I told her as I followed her out the door and to the car.

  “You’re making this so much easier to let you go, you just had mention the whole “stud” (she said using quotes) and tight pants…never mind you’re a big girl I have to keep telling myself that.” she said with tears in her eyes.

  “Mom please PLEASE don’t cry, you’re trying to make me feel guilty and it’s almost working.”

  She sniffled “I don’t want you to leave Chassis…but I know that this is what you’ve wanted to do for years, you HAVE to come home every weekend and holiday or I’m coming there.” She said as she wiped at her eyes and laughed.

  “You will not be showing up there on weekend’s mom, I might have to travel with the football team on away games…separately of course.”

  “You
didn’t tell me that.”

  “I did, but you broke down crying when I told you I was going to college four hours from home.” I said with a smile.

  “Oh, right, I guess you did.” She said and blew out a shaky breath.

  ~~~~

  The drive to my high school only took about fifteen minutes. Mom was driving and tapping her fingers against the steering wheel. I broke the silence “Mom what was the name of the driver that wrecked dad? I think I’m old enough to know now.” I asked her.

  She took a deep breath and blew it out, “I know, I know…We weren’t there that night since you had the chicken pox, so there is no video as far as we know of the actual wreck. From what your John and Mike said, your dad and the number six car driven by (she tapped her lips) Nathan Crow was his name. They had been battling each other for the points lead so they were racing each other extra hard and kept beating and banging on each other. The IMCA officials stopped the race and warned them both but your dad was stubborn and so was Nathan. After the race resumed, with four laps left your dad and Nathan drove hard into turn three side by side. Nathan pushed your dad up the track into the wall coming out of turn four down the straight away. John said everything happened so fast that they didn’t know whose car was flipping down the straight away into the infield until the dust settled. Nathan pulled into the infield and sat there looking at your dad’s car. When the paramedics got to your dad’s car the roll cage was so mangled that they had to cut the roll cage apart to get your dad out. Your uncles tried to drag Nathan out of the car but the track officials pulled them away from him. He never tried to ask how your dad was doing, he just drove his modified back to their enclosed trailer and left. They never sent a card, called, stopped by, or came to the funeral. He continued racing like the wreck never happened. He packed his family up and moved, about six months after the wreck.”

  “How many kids did they have?”

  “There was a little boy close to your age I think his name was Jackson and another older brother that was named Jason, I believe. Don’t quote me on those names though. I never talked to the wife much at the race track, she was not sociable with anybody, she ran stop watch for Nathan then went right back to the trailer. She didn’t speak to anybody besides the pit crew and the occasional track official. I honestly didn’t know the family. Maybe before you leave we can go out to Uncle John’s and see the car? If you want to.” She said.

  “Yeah I think I’d like that, I’ve wanted to see it so many times but yet I didn’t want to see it.”

  She smiled and patted my leg as we pulled into a parking stall at the high school, “Okay, let’s get this over with so I can spend the rest of my weekend crying my eyes out.” Mom told me as we got out of the car.

  “You’ll be just fine mom.” I told her and put my arm around her shoulders as we walked into the high school.

  The graduation ceremony seemed to drag on for hours. When I made my way across the stage my friend Asher stood on her chair, wolf whistled and yelled, “WORK IT CHASS WOOORK IT!” The principal gave her a pointed glare before shaking my hand and handing me my diploma, “Good luck with her as your roommate.” He told me with a laugh.

  After the ceremony, and what seemed like a million pictures later that mom had to take of me with our class. I told Asher that we were going to go see my dad’s race car.

  Her eyes got huge, “Are you sure you want to?” she asked with concern.

  “Yeah I’m sure, it’s been thirteen years.” I told her.

  She insisted she go along with mom and me. Asher and I have been lifelong best friends, our birthdays are eight days apart. She will never let me live it down that SHE is older than me by those days either. Her family helped mom and me so much after dad passed away, I could never imagine what life without Asher would be like. She was full of energy, beautiful, kind hearted, and had a no nonsense, no bullshit attitude. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, or to put me in my place. She was more like a sister to me than a friend, since I was an only child.

  We made the twenty minute drive to Uncle John’s farm, he was waiting on the front porch with a mug of coffee in his hand. After dad passed away my Uncle John took me under his wing as his very own daughter. He made sure that my dating years were next to impossible, he actually followed me around on a few dates. I had mentioned that I wanted to drive a race car a time or two. Of course he said no and so did mom, after that I never brought it up again.

  “Well look at the big girl, all ready to go off to college.” My uncle said with a big smile on his face.

  “Don’t remind me, I really don’t know how I’m going to survive without her here.” My mom said with tears in her eyes.

  My uncle just shook his head “You really need to get a boyfriend, let him take up your free time.” He told my mom, then looked at me and winked.

  My mom gasped “JOHN, How dare you even…”

  She was interrupted by my uncle, “What? It’s been thirteen years Alice, do you really think that Jimmy would want you to be so lonely? When was the last time you even went on a date?” he gave her a pointed glare.

  “I...I...I don’t want to even think about that.” She told him then walked towards the shop.

  Uncle John put his arm around my shoulders as we followed mom, “She needs a man in her life don’t you think?” he asked.

  I paused, “Yeah I think she does, maybe after I leave she will see that she deserves to have somebody, I know dad would want her happy.” I told him. He smiled and nodded his head.

  We stopped outside the shop door to let him unlock it, and then followed him inside to the enclosed trailer that he had to unlock. Mom, Asher, and I stood back as he lowered the door on the back of the trailer. My mom gasped when she seen the car then turned and walked away. I stood there frozen for a few minutes, when I felt Asher’s hand on my shoulder she whispered, “Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked. I nodded my head yes, then walked into the trailer. My uncle flipped the switch to turn the lights on. They buzzed, hummed, and flickered a few times until they lit up the inside of the trailer. I stood there staring at my dad’s wrecked car, the top of the modified was cut off completely, the roof with some of the halo/roll cage still attached to it, was resting against the front of the car. The steering wheel and steering column were both bent and twisted, the rib cage protectors on both sides of the seat were bent completely straight. Right beside the shifter, taped to the cockpit decking, was a picture of mom and I both smiling big holding up the number two. I felt tears falling down my cheeks, Uncle John walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder.

  “I think you’ve seen enough baby girl.” He said.

  I shook my head ‘no’, then walked towards the front of the trailer. The engine had oil leak stains running down it and there was a small puddle of oil under the engine. The front bumper was mangled and twisted, one side of it was still bolted to the front of the car while the other side rested against the trailer floor. I looked up at the overhead bunk area where I had napped so many times, my blanket, a few box cars, and a small pillow were still laying there. There was picture of dad and me standing beside the race car, taped to the wall. Then my eyes landed on dads helmet, the shield was laying beside the helmet. With shaky hands I picked up the helmet I let out a small laugh and wiped away more tears. His helmet still had the glitter pink heart stickers stuck all over it. I had written all over the helmet in every color of sharpie I could find “2”,” I You “, “GO DAD!” There was hardly any of the white helmet left showing through everything. When my mom had caught me doing that she was pretty sure my dad was going to flip out on me and I would be in big trouble. Instead of getting mad at me he looked over the helmet, “Well, no need to spend money to have it customized, I’d say you did a pretty awesome job baby girl.” He had told me.

  Asher walked up to me as I held the helmet close to me, running my finger along the crack that started at the front of the helmet then ended at the back near the neck of the helmet. “I so
remember watching you do that to the helmet, I thought for sure your dad would be mad.” She told me with a sad smile.

  I laughed then looked at John, “Can I keep this?”

  He smiled with tears in his eyes and nodded his head, “Sure baby girl.”

  I turned and looked at the car again, I closed my eyes, I could still hear the rumble of the engines at the race track. I remembered giving dad a high five and two thumbs up before he pulled away from the trailer. The way I could see the corners of his eyes wrinkle up with a smile that was hidden by his helmet.

  I walked out of the trailer with Asher and my uncle following me. Mom was standing outside the shop door crying, “I’m sorry Chassis I just couldn’t look.” She told me then looked at the helmet I was holding and let out a small laugh, “I was pretty sure he was going to be mad about you doing this to it. (she gave me a sad smile) Instead of being mad he thought you were the world’s best artist.” She told me.

  I hugged her “It’s okay mom, it’s hard to look at but I’m glad I finally seen it. It brings back a lot of happy memories at the race track with everybody.” I said with a smile.

  I hugged Uncle John before we left, he held on tight to me for a few minutes, “You keep away from those boys you hear me?” he said with a small laugh.

  “No boys...gotcha!”

  “And no big parties, be home by nine thirty, no make that nine o’clock on school nights.” He said with a stern tone and a warning look.

  I rolled my eyes and shook my head “Sure nine o’clock...gotcha.” I said with a laugh. With one last hug, we left then went back to my house so Asher and I could make the four hour drive together.

  Asher had her little Toyota Camry loaded to the max and I had my 2011 Camaro stuffed to the max. I felt horrible leaving mom, she was a blubbering mess as we pulled away from the house, I promised to call her as soon as we got to the campus.

  ~~~~

  Almost five hours and what seemed like one hundred restroom breaks for Asher later, we finally made it to Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Once we found the right dorm housing, we wasted no time finding our room. My mom and Uncle John insisted that we have the best room possible in a non-coed building of course. Much to my surprise, the dorm was actually more like an apartment with two bedrooms and one bathroom. I was glad we at least would each have our own room for privacy and that only Asher and I would have to share a bathroom. The furniture and our beds had been delivered a week before so all we had to do was bring everything from our cars up to the room.