Thank you! Good to know 
I’ll keep working away!
Sorry for the late update, I had something personal to deal with over the past few days. This isn’t one of my favourite chapters since it is kind of a filler but they’re still important! Please read and enjoy! 
CHAPTER EIGHT
After Rick treated me to lunch, it was time to get down to business. All the potential racers gathered down near the pits and we were instructed on how the try-outs would work simply and efficiently. Each car would run a few laps as a basic qualification of his speed, and anyone who finished over the required time would be immediately cut. Once that was completed, we would be assembled into random groups and run a short race to demonstrate our skills. There were close to 200 cars aiming for a chance to make something out of their hobby, but by the end of the day there would only be 43.
“Let’s go find a spot to watch from,” Rick suggested, once we were dismissed from receiving the try-out orders. We were to run the qualifying laps based on the numbers we had been assigned earlier in the day, so Rick and I weren’t set to go until about halfway through.
We found a nice area in the in-field that was surprisingly not crowded at all. A lot of the additional cars who had been loitering earlier had moved to the grandstands, leaving only those who were actually there to race. It wasn’t long before things got under way, and one-by-one, cars started zooming past us. I couldn’t help taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of each one that raced by. I was trying to figure out where I fit amongst them.
Rick whistled softly. “These guys sure are good, ain’t they?”
I nodded my head in stupor. I could tell they were all driving their hardest, just like I would be. They wanted this opportunity just as much as any other car.
Rick looked over at me, his eyes portraying not the slightest waver of fear. “Doc?” he spoke my name, rather than one of my numerous nicknames.
I was startled by this sudden mellow change in him. “Yeah?”
He blinked a few times, almost sheepishly. “Would you-?” He paused to restart, “I’m not cut out for this, Doc. I just don’t have the energy of you younger guys anymore. And I knew that all along, but I came for you. If you make it, would you allow me to be your crew chief?”
I was shocked by his words. Rick had been so confident all along, and it was because he had no determination to land a spot? It wasn’t what I had expected, but I understood his feelings. And I couldn’t have been more flattered by both the fact that he’d came to support me, and the proposal he’d just made.
I smiled timidly and replied, “Of course, I’d be honoured.”
Both Rick and I ran our qualifying laps to the best of our ability. I’d been a bit antsy, but I’d tried to erase the setting from my mind and replaced it with the images of the track back at home. It was no different than that, just laps around the dirt.
When the qualifying round had finished, we gathered back near the pits again. A couple of official-looking cars announced that the times had been tallied and that a list of 100 names had been posted; the names of those who had made it on to the final round.
Rick stayed back and coaxed me to join the group of cars mobbing the list. I squeezed in between two other racers and moved along with the sporadic movement of the crowd. I could see cars reaching the front and then pushing their way out of the group with looks of frustration on their face. Some cars threw out curse words which were drowned out by the cheers of others. My tank was churning as I imagined what my reaction would be like.
At last, I reached the list. Two sheets hung before my eyes, with names scrolling down their thin paper in bold black ink. My vision moved methodically across the names as I realized it was in alphabetical order.
[i]F… G… H…
Houston, Alexander
Hudson, Doc[/i]
I stopped and stared at my name like it was the most glorious thing I’d ever set my eyes on. I blinked a few times, being sure that it was really my name. Then I felt pressure on my rear from other cars urging me to hurry up. I smiled and moved away from the lists. Unfortunately, my eyes hadn’t stumbled across Rick’s name anywhere, but I knew he’d be happy anyways.
After another minute or two of maneuvering through all the bodies, I finally reached Rick with a grin already pulling at my lips. He read my expression instantaneously and his own excitement broke out in reaction.
I wasn’t able to say anything, but Rick knew exactly where we stood. He didn’t bother asking me, he simply said, “Come on, Doc, you’ve got a race to win.”
There we were again, just an hour and a half later. My body was still pulsing with pure adrenaline as the previous events ran through my mind. I had just placed first in my group race and now that the trials were complete everyone was hovering near where the final results would be declared.
Rick was beaming at me, a ticking time-bomb of exhilaration. We both had the notion that my future spot in the league was secure, given the fact that I had won. However, you could never be too sure, and both our hearts were racing in anticipation of gaining that solid confirmation. The boys I’d been grouped with had given me a run for my money, but after Rick’s preposition to crew chief, I had gone in with electric determination. I wasn’t racing just for myself; I was racing to give him that opportunity too.
Suddenly we heard the screeching of a microphone, paired with the groans of cars around us. When the horrendous sound had passed, a voice came over the speakers, one of the scouts I thought.
“Attention everybody! We will now be reading the final list of the day. The following forty-three racers have been accepted to the league and will be contacted by the administrators shortly. We would like to thank all of you for you participation and we certainly saw an immense amount of talent today. But our selections, in no particular order, are…”
His voice trailed off and I closed my eyes, focusing on only the names that would begin to rattle out. The crowd fell silent, more quiet then they had been all day. Then he started reading, and we all held our breath.
Tens of names rolled by, none of them registering in my mind for the slightest second. And then I heard it; “Doc Hudson.”
My eyes flew open and I looked over to Rick. We each smiled broadly, reflecting the disbelief and happiness of what we had just heard. It was only my name, but in this context it was beyond that. It was the spark to the fire which ignited in me, a fire which would burn brightly until I achieved my goal of living out the dream to come.
When all the names had been called out, Rick nudged my fender and laughed giddily. “What did I tell ya, Rookie?”
I was unable to wipe the smile from my face. He really could call me ‘Rookie’ now. I couldn’t speak; I was too busy absorbing myself in the scene around me. All the cheering cars, all the cars I’d be racing with. And what would Johnny say when he found out that I was about to make something out of what he considered a ‘stupid hobby’? And Mama, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. For once in my life I felt like I’d done something to make her inconceivably proud of me.
“Come on,” Rick shouted over the noise, “Let’s go celebrate!”
I nodded numbly and began following him to the track’s exit. I was so dazed that I hardly noticed Donna pop out from nowhere. I didn’t know if she had been listening to the scout reading or if she could just tell from my expression, but she flashed me a knowing smile and said, “Way to go, Doc, I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”
I fumbled for the words to thank her, but once they reached my mouth she was yet again gone already.
Hopefully everything made sense! Thank you for reading, and please comment if you would like! :smiley:I thought this chapter was great! It was a little bit predictable, but still fun to read.
Given that we all know Doc got into racing, yeah. 
That was my main reason for not enjoying it as much too. 
Thanks for reading and commenting! 
Predictable, that’s true. But that was kind of unavoidable, I think. 
This chapter was great! It was kind of a filler but I don’t think it was boring. I also think your descriptions and how you portrayed Doc’s emotions were really nice.
Unavoidable- yes! I’m pleased it was still enjoyable as a filler and didn’t disappoint. Thank you.
I’ll admit, I don’t read very much fanfiction, but I’m glad to say that your work is one of the very few that I’ve read in recent memory. I’ve only read three chapters so far, but I am loving the relatively dark subject matter for this kind of fandom and how mature and well-composed your writing style. It’s a real blessing that there are dedicated people like you who still are creating fan-content for Cars, seeing as most regular Pixar fans have kinda moved on and now the few remaining true Cars fans only have this little niche fandom left. Anyways, I definitely will finish what you have written so far and I am looking forward to new chapters!
Wow, thank you so much Ding! I’m thrilled that you’ve taken the time to read it. I agree, there used to be a LOT of Cars writers around the time Cars 2 came out, but most have dropped off. And the fact that you think mine is “mature and well-composed” is very flattering. Again, thank you and it is for you readers that I keep writing!
I just realized I missed updating chapter nine of this story. I apologize for that. So, here’s a double update for you then!
CHAPTER NINE
Thankfully, the hotel Rick and I were staying at had its own bar on the ground floor. We celebrated that night with countless alcoholic beverages, all on Rick since I had hardly a nickel to my name. I felt a tad guilty accepting his generosity, but he assured me that I deserved it.
After spending an hour or so too long at the bar, we navigated up to our room and crashed for the night. My mind was heavy with dizziness and my tank swirling with strong fluids, but I was sober enough to hold a steady look at the telephone for a moment. I had to call home; I had to tell Mama I was about to get my big break and to tell Johnny that there was more to me than he thought. But the call would have to wait until morning when I was able to keep myself from swaying.
Morning came and went, followed by the afternoon that brought us back to our small town in Illinois. Rick and I split shortly upon arriving to go our separate ways. I’d never heard Rick speak of any family, so I assumed I would find him later on when I got around to visiting the track.
The drive home was surprisingly quick, and the long dirt path leading up to the rickety porch seemed to unfold underneath my tires like it was leading me towards a grand entrance. I hoped my family members were anticipating me with as much hope as I’d tried to instill on them. Rick and I had hit the road pretty early that morning, leaving me unable to steal a minute to call them with the good news.
I pounded my tire eagerly against the wooden door and gazed up at it, remembering that time so long ago when it had held that starred flag. I wondered where my mother had put that flag after the war, if she had kept it at all. I wondered if the priest had sat on anyone else’s porch, waiting to deliver the news that the father of the house had died. I wondered if he knew how much that changed lives.
But I didn’t have time to mull those things over. The door was swung open and I was met by the youthful glow of my sister’s face. Her eyes grew as she realized that it was me, and she looked hesitant. She was probably trying to read my expression and gauge what the appropriate thing to say was.
“Doc,” she smiled softly, “Come in.”
I smiled back and followed her inside. Once the door was closed I moved to the living room and started to look around.
“Where is Mama?” I asked after scanning the entire room. For some reason I had been expecting to see her figure sitting by the window as it had been the last time I saw her.
“She’s on the other floor. Park yourself, I’ll call her,” Cindy gestured to the empty space in the room before gliding out the doorway.
A few minutes later, she emerged in the room again with Mama at her side. Mama appeared as thoughtful and wise as ever, but still retained her unattached personality. She settled with Cindy across from me, her face a blank canvas.
“Mama,” I began, holding her name gently on my tongue. “I made it, Mama, I’m going to be sponsored and race in the league!”
Cindy gasped and tossed her eyes in Mama’s direction with delight. Mama’s bumper slowly curled into something that could only be described as a grin. One of the most glorious and fulsome grins that could be worn by a mother. I was overjoyed with unexplainable feelings. The fact that my simple words, my accomplishment, had brought this pleasure to her was more rewarding than anything else.
“That’s wonderful, Doc! Just wonderful!” Cindy gushed in her girlish and giddy way.
Mama’s grin still shone as she added, “I knew you were destined for more. I’m so happy for you, Doc.”
My eyes welled with tears. Not even Johnny’s predictable wrath would be enough to ruin this happiness.
I was right. After Cindy telephoned Johnny with the news, he refused to join us for dinner. I didn’t mind all that much. It was saddening that my sibling couldn’t share in my joy but at least he wasn’t going to ruin it. He wasn’t exactly a part of my support system, so it was no bother to me that he was making himself distant.
When we finished a delectable meal prepared by Mama herself, I decided it would be a good idea to pay Bonnie a visit. Although I didn’t care so much about my brother, I wanted her to be one of the cars who cared about my future. I wanted her to be in my future.
I nervously made my way to the Wilson house, hoping that she hadn’t really meant what she’d said to me last. It was a bold statement, but she couldn’t really be that angry that I’d chose to go to the try-outs, could she? What did that hurt her?
The Wilson house was outfitted with a doorbell, so I politely rang it once instead of banging on the nicely carved door. A lengthy minute passed before I heard a slight creak of the hinge. Mrs. Wilson peeked out from the crack between the door and the frame.
“Oh. Doc…” she started slowly, “Hello.” She had recognized me but she didn’t open the door any further.
“Good evening, Mrs. Wilson,” I said, trying to keep my manners as perfect around Bonnie’s parent as I always did. “Would Bonnie be home?”
“I… Well, I don’t think-,” she awkwardly started. Her eyes darted around uncomfortably.
“Could I speak to her?” I tried asking.
Mrs. Wilson shifted on her tires. “She can’t talk right now, I’m sorry, Doc.”
I could tell she was lying, and I looked up to the window above. It was Bonnie’s window, and I almost expected to see her watching from above as her mother shooed me away.
I edged closer to the door and pleaded, “Please, Mrs. Wilson, just for a minute?”
She began closing the door and repeated pitifully, “I’m sorry…”
The door closed smoothly but I felt as though it had just been slammed directly into my bumper. Was Bonnie really trying to avoid me? How could she not even give me a chance to talk to her and figure out what exactly was wrong?
Maybe she supported me as little as Johnny did.
The thought made me sick with anger and denial. Bonnie wasn’t anything like Johnny. Unlike him, she had faith in me. She always had. She couldn’t give up on me so easily just because I’d decided to take a risk with my career.
All the worry started to make me unsettled. I couldn’t determine what Bonnie’s strange behaviour was all about and why she didn’t want to see me. I didn’t want to dare think about her not supporting me again, because there was the tiniest belief in my heart that it was true. And that was too much to deal with right now.
So, I did what I always did when I needed to escape unwanted thoughts- I drove off to find the track.
End of chapter nine!
[b]CHAPTER TEN[/b]
I tried to reach Bonnie a few more times that week but was completely unsuccessful in conclusion. I had no idea what had gotten to her, yet business was calling, so Rick and I soon had to bring an end to our downtime. We finished our visit with a casual party at the track and then left the following morning. While I knew I would miss our friends, I also felt a pang of heartache having to leave my family again. Mama and Cindy assured me they would be watching for me on television, and I vowed I’d come back as often as possible. I only hoped we could all keep true to those promises. And perhaps in time Bonnie would reveal her sudden disappearance to me.
Rick explained that it would be best for us to return to Daytona during the racing season. Many races would be held there and it provided better locations for training. As soon as we were settled in again- this time in a very small two-bedroom place that Rick rented- we got straight to work. The weeks flew by as Rick pushed me to work my body in all kinds of ways and gave me advice on how to improve even the smallest things. When I wasn’t practicing, we were dealing with more formal stuff. Sponsorships had to be sorted out, along with being educated on all the rules of the league and how the season would work. Rick worked closely with the cars organizing things so it came as no surprise when the selected to title the league the ‘Piston Cup Championship’. Apparently they found the story of Rick and the boys racing for in honour of his late friend quite endearing, and it inspired a fantastic idea for what the trophy could look like.
When the first race of the season came, I was feeling both exhilarated and anxious. The opener would take place at the Daytona track once again, and being that I had already raced on it, that was a comfort. However, there was a certain weight to it now. This time I wasn’t racing purely hope. Things were serious now; everything was so much more real. It was almost so real to the point of being [i]surreal[/i].
Then I spotted Donna cruising around the track with such ease that it put my trembling tank at bay. She always looked so relaxed in this environment that it seemed to remind me that I should be too. So I took a deep breath and approached her. Maybe if I was around her more it would keep my nerves settled.
“Afternoon, Miss Mayfield,” I greeted in the most charming voice I could muster.
Her emerald eyes lost their dull sheen and focused purposefully on me. She smiled with a natural glow and replied, “Hey there, Doc. Please, just call me Donna.”
I nodded, “OK, Donna. How are you doing? I didn’t expect to see you here.”
She raised her windshield as if to say ‘I didn’t expect myself to be here either’ and answered, “Well, since Daddy’s workin’ here and he doesn’t want me roamin’ around town alone, I guess I might as well be here.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Yeah…” she said in a softer tone, “But I think I could get to like this place.”
“It sure is an exciting place,” I agreed.
For a moment we just stared at each other in silence. It was a strange silence, one that was content and understanding but slightly awkward too.
I cleared my windpipe. “Well, I guess I should be going then.”
“Oh,” she said sheepishly, “Of course. It was nice seeing you, good luck again!”
I smiled, feeling much more confident than when I had arrived. “Thank you, Donna.”
----------------------------------------------------
The dirt turned effortlessly under my tires that day, but if I learned anything it was that speed alone wasn’t going to win me any races. Speed was like air, you needed it to compete. It was strategy that made all the difference; it was what you chose to [i]do[/i] with that speed.
I was feeling in better shape than I had ever been in my life, and I soared across the track without experiencing any painful side-effects that most cars would feel after enduring such extended exertion of their engine. But I was only able to rise to third place, and even that was a challenge. As always, I was one of the youngest of the league and I was completely uneducated on the moves I should make.
Rick coaxed me through the entire race, using the headset all the racers had been newly equipped with. He could tell I was struggling and I got the notion that he too was a bit stunned by the amount of thought these racers had put into this. I knew we would have to up our game if I wanted a shot at that trophy.
When the race was over, I had held on to my third place and finished strong after some jostling near the last twenty laps. I wasn’t entirely thrilled with my performance but I knew Rick was proud of me and that made me feel more content with myself. I had so much trust in him to guide me through this new world. I had so much admiration for Rick, at times I was afraid to admit that the respect I had for Rick was almost as strong as the respect I’d had for my father. It seemed wrong. I could only have one father, and he was dead and gone. But the way Rick took care of me, it made me wonder. Maybe a father didn’t have to be defined as the one who had helped create me.
After I had received my congratulations and praise from many of my fellow racers, Rick and I escaped the crowd clouding the pit area. I kept catching snippets of conversations floating in and out of the bustling cars. I think I caught sight of a reporter swerving between the bodies, clicking a photograph here and there. I marveled at how magnificent I still found this atmosphere to be. I pondered whether I’d ever be able to truly get used to it as seamlessly as Donna had already.
Donna. I was suddenly searching my surroundings in hopes of catching a glimpse of her bright red paint. She’d been happy to see me earlier, and for some reason I had the desire to see her reaction to my race today. If she had been paying any attention to me that is; I couldn’t forget that there had been 42 other racers out there today.
“What do ya say, Rookie? Should we go celebrate this win?” Rick asked me when we had moved away from all the noise.
I smiled at the fact that he considered third place a ‘win’. I deliberated his offer and felt uneasy for a moment. I had hoped that we could go back to the room where I could call Cindy with the news of my results today. But I knew Rick would probably want to take me out to a fancier restaurant and bar instead and I didn’t feel like interrupting his plans for one measly call. It could wait until morning.
Rick’s voice repeated, “Well?”
“Alright,” I replied and slowly added, “But let me invite Donna to join us first.”
I don’t really think chapter ten was my best, but it was difficult to write now that we are getting into Doc’s racing years. Things might seem to move more quickly in upcoming chapters but that is because I can only write so many race scenes before they get repetitive and redundant. However, I am going to try and retain the social aspect to keep things interesting while the story progresses through his career. Thanks to those who read and please comment if you’re interested in more. And again, apologies for such a late update!
This has been updated on Fanfiction.net, so here’s the next chapter…
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The rest of the season ran by in a steady stream of events. Train, travel and rejoice over wins- this was the cycle of my life. Sometimes I didn’t have a win to revel in, in which case the training part of the cycle would simply become increased. I learned from the mistakes I encountered and Rick helped me with devising my strategic skills. I’d gain some then lose some; it was a constant battle to keep on the bumper of the point leaders. And this was the fashion my days rolled on in, never breaking for anything, family included.
I didn’t see my family often, well, never actually. Occasionally I could steal a short phone conversation with Cindy or Mama but it wasn’t the same. The sound of their voices could only conjure up visions of what they looked like, not bring them to me. There were no more home-cooked meals or quiet evenings of sitting in the living room together. There was just a great distance pushing us apart over and over again.
Sometimes I felt guilty. Perhaps Johnny was right; perhaps I should have been in Illinois earning an income for them. But they had him, and Cindy had just been promoted to head waitress at the restaurant. They didn’t need me to be financially secure. And Rick said I’d be receiving a sum of money at the end of race reason, extra if I placed well. I’d give them every dollar I collected because I raced for the love of it, not for the money.
Then there was Bonnie. So many thoughts about her ran through my mind when I was alone at night. Was she still faithful to me or was I just clinging to a non-existent relationship? Maybe when she’d last spoke to me she’d meant that was the end of us, and maybe that’s why she hadn’t spoken to me when I’d visited. Girls were always doing cryptic things like that. But I found it hard to believe that she’d meant we were over in an instant like that. I couldn’t figure any of it out. And what haunted me the most was not knowing when I would see her again, if I would see her again.
I tried not to let these things get to me. It’s not like I was the only racer who hadn’t seen his family in months. I had to accept that this was a part of the lifestyle. I still had Rick; he was like family to me. I had Donna; she’d become a good friend to me over time. I wished I had a girl to miss me, but you couldn’t hope for too much.
The Piston Cup that year was held in Daytona to no one’s surprise. It had come to be something like a home track to all of us racers. I was ranked in third for season points, and if I could do well then I could possibly finish with second.
The stadium was swarming more than usual underneath the hot Florida sun. I didn’t typically get very nervous before races anymore, but I was feeling a slight quiver in my tank that particular day. I knew I couldn’t drive away the big winner today due to the point difference, but I wanted that second place finish just as badly. I wanted to know that I’d done my very best. And more than that, I wanted to prove myself worthy of racing next season.
Soon enough, it was race time. We piled onto the track, took our positions and set off on the first Piston Cup championship race in history. There was a splendid roar from the grow that helped charge me with excitement. All around me I saw nothing but my fellow competitors, each trying to earn that millisecond that put them ahead.
The laps flew by and we were all so close, packed together in a pressure and heat filled bubble. Rick was coaching me as always and I managed to sidle up to sixth place. Everything was going as planned, and if it continued this way then I’d be able to capture that second place finish as I aimed to. I should have known that this would be the day for a crash to happen though.
We had just come out of the second turn when I saw the cloud of smoke ahead. I’d experienced a few crashes already, but this one looked pretty bad. I’d never seen such a pile-up of cars before. I watched as the racers ahead of me spilt apart as they tried to find a path through the mess of bodies. I heard Rick say something over my radio along the lines of ‘take it easy’. He knew this accident could ruin all our plans.
As I entered the smoke I was shocked to see that there were actually quite a few cars caught up in crash. Nobody appeared to be hurt, there were just so many cars blocking the track that they were nearly impossible to avoid. I thought I saw an escape ahead of me, an opening back onto the clear section of the track. So, I accelerated hard, hoping that I’d exit the exhaust-filled air before my other competitors.
I was almost clear, my vision no longer fogged by the smoke. I continued to race onwards until I was met with the body of another racer. Number twenty-two came swerving out from the right-side of the crash and I felt him slam directly into my side. I was going so fast that I lost traction from the sudden impact and slid towards the infield. Rick’s voice buzzed across my radio but I couldn’t focus on him, I just needed to stay away from that grass. If I wound up there I’d lose so much momentum and speed that I’d never catch up to my original position.
My tires wouldn’t have it though. I wasn’t strong enough to hold my ground and next thing I knew I felt the soft turf beneath me. Then I had a sudden impulse. I didn’t even have to think about it, my body just took over as if it were doing something as regular as breathing. My tires gently turned and my body drifted across the grass, ripping it up as I went. It was my classic move from back home, my ‘right to go left’ theory.
The move put me back in control and I straightened out to bring myself back onto the track. I was breathing hard and unable to believe that I’d really just saved myself like that. I still had a shot now, I could still finish in second place if I kept racing strong.
A yellow car pulled out in front of all the racers and gave me a chance to look up at the screen broadcasting the race while the crash was sorted out. The camera was on me, following me along the track.
Later on, Rick told me about the screaming announcers, the stunned crowd and the multiple replays of my miraculous save. He told me that I was now known as not just ‘The Hudson Hornet’. From that day out I was ‘The Fabulous Hudson Hornet’.
And that's when Doc got his famous name :stuck_out_tongue:This is going to be a long review. 
I don’t remember where you wanted me to review so sorry. 
I’ll spit this doozy up into chapters.
Chapter 9: I like how Doc went back to visit his family and that Mama is finally happy for him. I’m interested in seeing what happens with Johnny being cold about the whole situation. Bonnie, too. Oh, and one question. I know I might lose some reader points for this but how old is Doc? I know, fail. 
^^^ A nice ending to the chapter.
Chapter 10: Basically, I think this was a nice, informative chapter. You’re killing me with Donna! My “romance radar” is on. I feel it, I know it’s coming. You’re killing me… killinnggggg meeeeee. 
Chapter 11: I think this was a great way to set up him becoming the “Fabulous Hudson Hornet”. I was kind of waiting to see how you would do that and I think the ending and everything was great.
^^^ You’re just great at ending chapters.
That actually wasn’t as long as I thought. 
No problem, you can always review whenever/wherever you like. I’ll split mine up too so you know what I’m responding to.
Ch 9: I’m glad you haven’t forgotten about the characters back home, but you’ll have to wait and see. You don’t lose reader points! I’m happy you asked! I actually haven’t thought a lot about it (since the timeline is a tiny bit off), but I think he would be in his very late teens. So, 18 or 19? It doesn’t exactly line up with the crash being in '54 given the year I chose for him to be born, but just as a general idea it is now the late fourties/early fifties time period.
Ch 10: Aw yeah, keeping you guessing. You’re radar is always on when it comes to my writing. 
Ch 11: Thank you very much! Ending chapters is always a challenge, so I’m pleased they were well-done these last few chapters!
Lol it wasn’t as long as I expected either, but thank you sooo much!!
Next chapter!
CHAPTER TWELVE
Due to my brilliant save, I snagged second place in my first Piston Cup championship that day. Rick said he couldn’t have asked for anything better, and Donna told me that she’d known all along that I had the talent to pull it off. After the race I was awarded with a decent amount of prize money, and even though I wasn’t the winner, I was confronted by quite a few reporters. It was the strangest thing to be questioned by them, but I felt honoured that they wanted to hear my answers. When all that was done with, we bid Donna goodbye and Rick asked me how I wanted to celebrate this time. The answer was easy; I wanted to go home.
It was so nice to return to Illinois with the knowledge that I wasn’t on a time restraint. The day where I would have to be back in Daytona seemed like a distant memory I could hardly remember. Until then, I could temporarily relax in the world I’d known before the astonishing shift in my life.
Rick’s initial visit was to the track. I joined him for a little while and rejoiced with all our old friends. They knew I was different now; I wasn’t the young rookie kid who had happened to stumble upon their hangout. Yet, they stilled treated me some the same. They had acquired great respect for me, but I would still always be the youngster to them. I took in their gleaming eyes and lop-sided smiles and I thought to myself that maybe they admired me so much because I was becoming what they could have been. Not in a depressing way, but in a way that made them feel nostalgic to see how far racing had come and could possibly go. They probably felt like they were a part of this revolution. And they were. I knew a time would come where they would be no longer able to race, and I would never see them again. But I’d never forget the group of them; they were like brothers to me.
When the afternoon rolled around, I dismissed myself from the group and wandered into town. I hadn’t been home to see Cindy or Mama yet, but there was something I needed to do first. Someone I had to find.
I wasn’t sure where Bonnie’s daycare was located, so I drove the main streets until I spotted the red brick building. Along the front window I could see ‘Little Bumpers Daycare’ painted in large white letters. It was a small town, so I figured this had to be the one and only daycare. I made my way around to the rear of the building and waited a short distance from the back exit. I knew Bonnie’s shift normally ended around 4, and this appeared to be the door designated for employee use. She couldn’t escape me this time.
I don’t know how long I waited for outside that door. The first time the door opened, I tensed all over, ready to see Bonnie’s soft purple paintjob. It was only a false alarm though; two female cars so lost in conversation that they didn’t even notice me. They were probably finished at the same time as Bonnie, which meant she would be leaving any moment now.
At last, there she was. Bonnie shoved the slate grey door open and drove out into the dying sunlight. Her normally intense brown eyes looked tired and dull, and she didn’t carry herself with such dignity like she used to. She had matured into a full-grown female and I was shocked by the changes. She still looked pretty in her light paint, but there was something so different about her. She seemed to be missing the vivacious nature she’d always glowed with. There was a sparkle about her I always remembered from when we were school children. That was what was lost. She was merely an ordinary car.
Bonnie was about to make her way down the ramp leading from the building when she saw me. I watched as her entire body froze and she searched my eyes helplessly. She looked as though she were contemplating going back inside for a minute. Then she dropped her gaze and carried on as if she hadn’t seen me.
That wasn’t how it was supposed to go. It was all wrong. She was supposed to gasp with surprise and rush at me with glee. She was supposed to apologize and start crying about how much she missed me. Then I would kiss her and everything would be fine.
But it wasn’t fine.
I moved out of my spot and met her before she could escape from the property. Her eyes begrudgingly lifted to look at me.
“Bonnie…” I whispered. She didn’t respond and I inched closer.
She visibly flinched and reversed a tiny bit while she told me, “Doc, I don’t…”
I waited and waited, but the words had left her mouth so weakly that I knew she had nothing more to say.
“I came to see you, months ago, but your mother said you weren’t in,” I told her with sadness in my voice. What I was really telling her was that I knew she was there. I was truly asking why she had avoided me.
Her lip quirked and her windshield gained a slight sheen to it. Finally she said, “I know. And I’m sorry, Doc. I’m sorry that I can’t do this. I was just too afraid to tell you then.”
My eyes grew in alarm and I asked, “You can’t do what? What are you talking about, Bonnie? Please, I just-.”
“I can’t be with you,” her voice dug in quickly and sharply like a nail. The strength didn’t last though, it wavered as she continued, “I can’t live this life with you. How do you expect me handle us being apart so much? How can I trust that you’re faithful? How can I… be the wife to a racer?”
She paused there and I felt the need to jump in with some kind of argument. I couldn’t do it. All I could do was sit there lifelessly and listen to her wash away our relationship.
“I thought this was just a hobby of yours, like everyone else did. But here you are, getting yourself involved with some league. What kind of a life is that? You’re never home, you don’t have a job. I need something steady. Someone who I can trust to always be there when I need them and to raise a family with,” Bonnie explained.
We were crashing, our relationship becoming nothing but useless, crumpled metal. We were a lost cause, impossible to fix.
I wasn’t constant enough, that’s what she thought. She didn’t want to live this dream with me anymore. I would either have to wake up to reality or accept that she would never appear in this dream I’d been living in for the past months.
“But this is a job,” I argued in one last attempt to repair the ruins, “I can provide for you. I can be the same as any other guy and take care of you. Why don’t you see that?”
She sighed and refused, “No, Doc, you can’t. You chose to leave me behind.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My dreams were worthless to her. She didn’t want to help me chase them; she wanted to obliterate them from my mind.
There was nothing I could do. Not only had we crashed, we were smoking and melting into pools of metal.
So, I decided to set fire to the whole thing and replied boldly, “I understand. But when you change your mind, don’t expect to find me waiting. Don’t expect to find me at all.”
Bonnie blinked at me with shock. She stayed for a second, and then turned away without a word.
I didn’t make any movement at all. I just sat there and watched her drive away, like I was watching the flames of the fire perish to smoldering coals.
Hopefully the 'crash and burn' metaphor made sense. Comments anybody? :laughing: Thanks for reading. :slight_smile:Awww, I saw this coming with Bonnie and Doc. 
You got to make way for Donna somehow. Huh, huh? I thought that your description of Bonnie and the conversation between them was really good.
^^^ That’s just awesome writing.
I love that and yes, your ‘crash and burn’ analogy made total sense.
Lol not only were anticipating that break-up between them, you were probably looking forward to it then. Aw, thank you very much for pointing those out! And I’m glad the analogy was clear too!
Sorry for the slow update this time, but here you go!
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
That night I went home to a flurry of kisses. They should have been from Bonnie, but instead they came from my mother and sister as they pecked at my fenders with pride. Inside, I felt my heart slowly dissolving as the impact of the recent event finally took its toll on me. On the outside I reflected a shy glow of righteousness. Overall all, it wasn’t exactly the way I’d expected to feel upon returning from my strong season finish.
It was Mama who cooked dinner that time, and I waited patiently with Cindy in the den before it was served. She was still slightly reserved in nature, but she seemed to have gained a great deal of confidence during my absence. She hit me with question after question and a healthy dose of praise as well. Suddenly there came a pause in the conversation, as if she’d just shed light on a new discovery.
“Didn’t you invite Bonnie?” she asked innocently.
I pulled my eyes away from hers and stared nervously at the wall. “No. I just wanted it to be our family tonight,” I fibbed, my voice dropping off near the end of the sentence. A family, precisely what Bonnie believed I wasn’t capable of being a part of…
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Cindy said, a faint hint of dismay tinged her words.
“I’m surprised that it’s Mama making dinner tonight, not you,” I announced, eager to change the subject.
Cindy smiled pensively. “Doc, you have no idea how much she has changed since you’ve been gone. She still doesn’t talk a whole lot, but she watches your races like a religion. It gives her something to look forward to, some purpose.” She turned her eyes on me and added, “You don’t know how much you’ve improved her mood, her life.”
We held contact for a few seconds, taking in this momentous revelation. Then I heard an insistent pounding at the front door. My heart leaped, thinking that it was Bonnie, back to apologize and beg me to take her back already. It couldn’t be though, after all, it was her who drove away. But if it was, could I block her out? Could I send her away once again or would I crumble?
Cindy perked up at the noise and sent me a sly smirk. “Johnny,” she told me quietly.
I was stunned. “What?”
She giggled lightly. “He refused to come as usual, until Mama got on the phone and told him otherwise.” We exchanged devious grins like we were still little kids who had just gotten our older sibling in trouble by our own doing. Then she dashed off into the direction of the front door.
Mama had dinner ready shortly, sparing me from having to endure too much small-talk with my brother. Things were tense at the dinner table, but as far as I was concerned, it wasn’t my problem to worry about. Johnny had made things that way. Cindy chattered on about the future renovations that the diner was to undergo and the rest of us interjected here and there with the appropriate ‘uh-huh’ or ‘m-hmm’. Then Mama told us briefly of the latest letter she’d received from our eldest brother Cord. Apparently he was set to become a father soon.
Soon enough, it came time for Johnny and me to feed the conversation. I sipped my fuel silently, listening as Johnny detailed about his possible transfer to another factory in town. After a while, my mind began to space out, tracing its way back to my spat with Bonnie.
“Well, it looks like you’ve got something going on now, Doc. Do you have plans for next season yet?” Johnny’s voice seemed to shake the entire room.
I snapped my attention to his face across the table, keenly awaiting my response. I had to replay the words he’d just said to me once more. Something about it was shocking. He was inviting me to make conversation with him, that much I had known was coming. It was the phrasing he’d used. The way he’d actually placed interest in his tone, the way he’d actually acknowledge my career and the entire reason we were having dinner together.
All eyes were on me as I slowly answered, “Rick says I’ve already been offered two sponsorships. I don’t know which I’ll take yet, but he’s going to be my crew chief again, so I trust him to help me figure it out.” The fuel stuck in my pipe as I added, “He says there might be a chance I could win the Cup next year.”
Jonny nodded tersely, registering everything in his mind methodically. “And if you win?”
“Well,” I hesitated for a second. “Then I’ll be given a larger portion of prize money. Not to mention the advertisement money from the sponsors too. And if I’m successful, I could continue racing and earning a living.” Just like you said I wouldn’t be able to do… I wanted to tack on the end, but I left it.
He cleared his windpipe and drew the last bit of his fuel into his mouth. When he was finished, he looked at me for a moment before his eyes darted away. “Sounds like a good plan,” he said and then excused himself politely from the table.
Later on, I lay in my old bed, thinking about the events of the day. Dinner was still fresh on my mind, particularly Johnny’s behaviour. He hadn’t completely admitted anything to me. There was no confession of how he should have had faith in me, no apology for giving me a hard time over my choice to race. Yet, I knew by the way he had acted that he did feel some shame. Perhaps I hadn’t gotten a ‘congratulations’ from him, but I felt accepted. Somehow that felt a million times more gratifying.
My eyes slid over to the open bedroom window. I could see the full moon, shining gallantly from its comfortable spot in the dense, black sky. It was so bright, as bright as the stadium lights I had grown accustomed to. I found myself start to think about Donna. She was somewhere hundreds of miles away, but she could be looking at the same moon as me. I wouldn’t see her for months now. Then, when all my thoughts should have been on losing Bonnie, I wondered for the first time if Donna was single. Maybe I’d subconsciously been wondering that all along.
End of chapter! Thank you for reading, comments are appreciated! :smiley:Great chapter! I think you wrote his homecoming very well. It was an enjoyable read.
Thank you! Next chapter should be out in a few days hopefully.
Nice chapter! I always like the way you write Doc with his family. I’m glad Johnny seems to be finally coming around. Ooooo, Donna, okay here we go.
Thanks! And yes, I know you’ve been excited about her for a while now.