Page 73 of The Legend
“Well,”Arie sat down next to me at the table beside my dad who was drinking rightalong with Sway and my uncle Randy. “I was wondering if I could go to ChiliBowl Nationals with Axel and the boys this year.”
“Why wouldyou want to go with them? You hate that race.”
“I neversaid I hated it.” Aries’ eyes darted around the room as if she was avoidingwhat she wanted to tell me. “I just think he needs my help. The whole teamneeds my help.”
“Fine,okay.”
Arie followedLexi who walked past and I caught the last portion of their conversation andknew I had been worked over. “...so heagreed to it?”
Aries’eyes widened when she saw me watching them.
I didn’t feellike knowing what they didn’t want me to. Arie was seventeen and was doinggoodthese days. She wasn’t getting into trouble anymore andfor the most part she was making smart decision.
“Hey, Uncle Jameson?”Cole called out from the family room holding a DVD in his hand withexcited blue eyes. “I finished the video.”
Sway and Imoved to the family room to watch the newest video he had created. Cole wasinto photography and making movies. Throughout the season Cole had beencapturing video and photographs in an attempt to create a video for JAR Racing.When he told me he what he was doing I figured it would be something like aslide show. I had no idea Cole had the talent that he did.
The screenwas black first with just our JAR Racing logo splashed across the screen beforeyou heard thunder cracking and the sounds of a rain storm. After a few seconds,cheering moved the video along followed by the beat of a heavy metal song. Thescreen flashed between black images and action shots of in-car footage of me,Axel, Justin and all the other boys manhandling sprint cars at Knoxville,Eldora, Williams Grove and Lernerville. There were clips of the boys working onthe cars, shots of us at the shop, video of wins for Justin, Rager and Tyler.Images of Axel’s win at Knoxville Nationals. Cody sweeping Four Crown Nationalsand numerous other shots all detailing the season. It ended with a video ofAxel and my dad walking back to the hauler after the World Finals.
“Wow!” waswhat most of us said to him. I knew Cole had talent of some sort, but most ofthe time I often wondered if his talent was causing trouble. Now at least hehad a future in making videos.
“At leasthe made a decent video this time.” Lane said sitting next to my dad. “The onefrom the party was—”
Castenpummeled Lane.
“Jameson,”Sway captured my attention before I could question my youngest and the video.“I don’t like the fact my son is getting married. Go pull them apart.”
Glancingover my shoulder, Axel was still glued to his bride to be. “No. I’m not goingover there.”
“You’re ahorr—” she began but stopped.
Shit moveor not, I kicked my wife.
“Asshole.”Shemouthed.
I winked.
Soondinner was served, more alcohol was consumed, my dad was shit faced, and my momcouldn’t be happier that we were all together.
“Jay,” Rexbegan again clasping my shoulders as he walked past us raising his eyebrowssuggestively as if he knew what to expect from his comment.
I saw mydad laughing out of the corner of my eye, actually he giggled, and Sway shookher head knowing the emotion warring in me and that I wouldn’t take well to himcalling me that again.
Swingingmy legs around, I stood before him, my eyes level with his, knocking my drinkover with the motion. “What was that...Rex?”
“You’vedone it now Rex.” Randy said provoking the matter. Every time Rex and I weretogether, we’ve gotten in a fight.
He shovedme, or maybe I shoved him. Either way, shoving took place. I took a swingfirst, or maybe he took the swing first. Either way, a swing took place.
Shoving,swinging, and then that turned into some words and before I knew it, I wasnursing a fat bloody lip and Rex had a broken jaw. Not many got away clean withmy left handed pop. Unfortunately Rex had a left handed pop that was similar.
My dadlaughed at me sitting there glaring at Rex, breathing heavy, glaring andspitting blood as he left with my uncle. “So you don’t like being called Jayhuh?”
“Shut up.”
“Hey dad,”Axel came into the room; finally without his hands or lips attached to Lilythough they were holding hands. Lily sat on his lap, his hands draped over herlegs as they sat next to me. “Have you heard about the winter race in Knoxvillethis year?”
“No, Ihaven’t heard anything.” Then it dawned on me. That must have been the raceTommy was talking about the other day. “Oh, wait, Tommy may have said somethingabout it.”
