Status: Chapter 25 to come!
Reach for the Sky
Prologue.
For a moment, I was still fourteen, watching the races with my best friend from the sidelines, perched on an old blue Blaster 200cc two-stroke with a black mutt balanced between us. I remembered watching the line of quad runners rev their engines in preparation for the start, and riders stretching their limbs, readying their bodies and minds. I remembered turning to follow them as they pulverized their way through that first corner; smashing and bashing one another in a cruel fight for the holeshot. I remembered watching with a smile as the first wreck of the afternoon rolled its way to a stop right in front of where my friend and I sat - the rider quickly leapt to his feet and tried to flip the twisted wreck of metal that was once a Honda 400EX over and re-start it.
I remembered saying to the boy behind me; “I’m going to do this one day.”
I remembered his retort; “No way, you’re not tough enough.”
I’ll always remember the vehement reply.
“Watch me.”
For a moment, I was preparing for my first Grand National Cross Country race with my best friend, a black mutt and my father. I remembered the jersey and pants I had selected, how I dressed with painstaking care because I knew that what I wore would have to feel comfortable for the next three hours. Remembered telling the dog to stay with my best friend and father, so he wouldn’t follow me around the track as he had in races past. I remembered stretching before the race, readying my body and mind, and escaping that deadly first turn without a single scratch or collision.
And most importantly, I remember winning.
I remembered saying to the boy behind me; “I’m going to do this one day.”
I remembered his retort; “No way, you’re not tough enough.”
I’ll always remember the vehement reply.
“Watch me.”
For a moment, I was preparing for my first Grand National Cross Country race with my best friend, a black mutt and my father. I remembered the jersey and pants I had selected, how I dressed with painstaking care because I knew that what I wore would have to feel comfortable for the next three hours. Remembered telling the dog to stay with my best friend and father, so he wouldn’t follow me around the track as he had in races past. I remembered stretching before the race, readying my body and mind, and escaping that deadly first turn without a single scratch or collision.
And most importantly, I remember winning.
♠ ♠ ♠
After taking this story down briefly, I've decided to bring it back, just because it had a lot of interest and I'm not willing to give up on it yet! :)