That’s got to make you feel amazin’.” An old-timer beat her dad on the back as he spit a stream of chewing tobacco in a cup.
She watched as her dad beamed with pride. “I made a great decision when I chose to sponsor Wayne. Wish I could do it for the whole year and not just the summer season. It ain’t hard to see he’s born and bred. He’s a natural behind the wheel, and with Lee telling him what to do, it’s going to take an act of God for anyone to beat them. They’ve got this shit figured out. I wonder how long we’re going to be able to keep Wayne on these little tracks. Sure as shooting somebody’s going to pick him up when we ain’t lookin’.”
The crowd began cheering loudly when the truck carrying Wayne’s team showed up. As the group got out of the truck, a path was made so that they could get their own treat for the night. The old-timer that had been talking up Clementine’s dad stopped Wayne with a wrinkled hand on his forearm.
“You’re doin’ this town a mighty fine job, boy. We’re damn proud of you, so when you make it to the big leagues, be sure and think about us ever once in a while.”
Bashful, Wayne pulled his hat down further on his head. “I will, sir. Don’t you worry. If I make it to the big leagues, everybody is going to know that Wayne Harper is from Soggy Bottom, Kentucky. They’ll know where home is.”
As he fought through the throng of people that wanted to wish him well, Clementine watched. Even though he was only a year older than her, he handled the attention well. It was as if he took the whole town’s dreams and stuck them on his shoulders. When he finally made his way to her, she held out an ice cream cone, smiling brightly. His had sprinkles.
“I’m special, huh?” he flirted as he took a lick of the cool cream. It was a nice refreshment after nearly sweating five pounds from his body weight in the car.
“The winner is always special. I can’t help that it’s usually you.”
“What can I say? I hate when people show me up. I want to be the best. I don’t settle for second place.”
Coming to stand beside him, Clementine glanced out at the people. “Thank God you don’t stand for second place. I don’t think this town could take it. You’re the winner and you’re going to bring the rest of us with you, whether you want to or not.”
He did his best to shrug nonchalantly. “That’s okay, I got big shoulders. Besides, I definitely wanna bring you with me.” He winked as he said the smooth line. It was a wink that usually got him anything he wanted. “What do you say we get out of here?”
“Me and you?”
“Just us,” he affirmed, holding out his hand to her.
“I say let’s go. Lead the way and I’ll do my best to follow.” She swallowed hard, knowing the sentence was more telling that she’d meant for it to be.
Turning around he laughed. “See, even you know that I lead, no matter what it is I do.”
Chapter Two
‡
W ayne and Clementine walked in a comfortable silence. The two of them had known each other since they were little, but it hadn’t been until this summer that either of them had begun to notice the other. With them working so close together at the track, this seemed to be a natural progression. Fireflies could be seen in the distance just as dusk descended. Small barefooted children with ice cream dripping from their chins and hands ran along beside them. The children that were done with their ice cream laughed as they caught the fireflies in mason jars. In the humid night air, crickets could be heard as far as the ear could listen.
“I bet those parents are gonna be pissed at your dad for givin’ away free ice cream.” His deep voice chuckled as he pointed to the kids that had just run by.
“No more pissed than ours were when we did the same thing. Besides, this town deserves to celebrate every once in a while. For one night a week it doesn’t matter if you come from the wrong or right side of the
She watched as her dad beamed with pride. “I made a great decision when I chose to sponsor Wayne. Wish I could do it for the whole year and not just the summer season. It ain’t hard to see he’s born and bred. He’s a natural behind the wheel, and with Lee telling him what to do, it’s going to take an act of God for anyone to beat them. They’ve got this shit figured out. I wonder how long we’re going to be able to keep Wayne on these little tracks. Sure as shooting somebody’s going to pick him up when we ain’t lookin’.”
The crowd began cheering loudly when the truck carrying Wayne’s team showed up. As the group got out of the truck, a path was made so that they could get their own treat for the night. The old-timer that had been talking up Clementine’s dad stopped Wayne with a wrinkled hand on his forearm.
“You’re doin’ this town a mighty fine job, boy. We’re damn proud of you, so when you make it to the big leagues, be sure and think about us ever once in a while.”
Bashful, Wayne pulled his hat down further on his head. “I will, sir. Don’t you worry. If I make it to the big leagues, everybody is going to know that Wayne Harper is from Soggy Bottom, Kentucky. They’ll know where home is.”
As he fought through the throng of people that wanted to wish him well, Clementine watched. Even though he was only a year older than her, he handled the attention well. It was as if he took the whole town’s dreams and stuck them on his shoulders. When he finally made his way to her, she held out an ice cream cone, smiling brightly. His had sprinkles.
“I’m special, huh?” he flirted as he took a lick of the cool cream. It was a nice refreshment after nearly sweating five pounds from his body weight in the car.
“The winner is always special. I can’t help that it’s usually you.”
“What can I say? I hate when people show me up. I want to be the best. I don’t settle for second place.”
Coming to stand beside him, Clementine glanced out at the people. “Thank God you don’t stand for second place. I don’t think this town could take it. You’re the winner and you’re going to bring the rest of us with you, whether you want to or not.”
He did his best to shrug nonchalantly. “That’s okay, I got big shoulders. Besides, I definitely wanna bring you with me.” He winked as he said the smooth line. It was a wink that usually got him anything he wanted. “What do you say we get out of here?”
“Me and you?”
“Just us,” he affirmed, holding out his hand to her.
“I say let’s go. Lead the way and I’ll do my best to follow.” She swallowed hard, knowing the sentence was more telling that she’d meant for it to be.
Turning around he laughed. “See, even you know that I lead, no matter what it is I do.”
Chapter Two
‡
W ayne and Clementine walked in a comfortable silence. The two of them had known each other since they were little, but it hadn’t been until this summer that either of them had begun to notice the other. With them working so close together at the track, this seemed to be a natural progression. Fireflies could be seen in the distance just as dusk descended. Small barefooted children with ice cream dripping from their chins and hands ran along beside them. The children that were done with their ice cream laughed as they caught the fireflies in mason jars. In the humid night air, crickets could be heard as far as the ear could listen.
“I bet those parents are gonna be pissed at your dad for givin’ away free ice cream.” His deep voice chuckled as he pointed to the kids that had just run by.
“No more pissed than ours were when we did the same thing. Besides, this town deserves to celebrate every once in a while. For one night a week it doesn’t matter if you come from the wrong or right side of the
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