POV Narrator:
After the fight between Laura and Beatrice, which was a real massacre on the part of McLaren, who simply had 10 witches fighting against her, using only a little of her potential against witches that were very well armed. That fight was watched by about 46 students of the academy from different rooms and different years that soon spread the news about what happened to the whole academy, giving even more fame to the Irish girl who became known as the girl who could handle 10 witches alone and even became somewhat respected and admired by the students of the academy as the strongest, but this "fame" had a huge price that the redhead knew very well what it was. Girls started showing up wanting to fight with her to see if she was really strong, but the answer was always "Fuck you".
The week was marked by these rumors about Laura beating up 10 students like it was nothing, which created a reputation of fear around McLaren and what she had about Beatrice faded away, this time the title of the strongest and toughest student in class was the Irish girl, who hated in every possible way to be recognized like that, after all she only wanted to be respected for the person she was and not because of a fight.
Days went by, the rumors went on, the classes went on as usual, even the teachers got to know about these rumors and Finnelan was the most suspicious, she even started to tell Bernadette to stop investigating about the drug deal and all the dangers around Laura McLaren, which was totally untrue, the Irish girl didn't use drugs and Cavendish wasn't working on this investigation thing, so much so that she simply celebrated not having to be related to this kind of nonsense job given by the teacher anymore.
On Friday of that week, Laura had to leave quickly after school, she went to Whittlebury, to take part in the free practice session and then the British Broom Racing Tour qualifying session, in both sessions she got the best time, which guaranteed her the pole position for Saturday's race that would take place in the same place. After the excellent performance in both sessions, McLaren went back to Luna Nova to rest, after all they would have a race in the afternoon of the next day.
Saturday, September 12, 1987
The race day has arrived, the day dawns a few hours later that morning, Laura wakes up from her bed, on automatic she already does her personal hygiene, going to the bathroom to take a shower and after that she puts on her race suit, where as she leaves she comes across Rosemary and April who were also waking up, they say good morning to the girl and wave to her.
POV Laura:
The day has come... I am finally at the point of deciding to be British Champion, but I knew this day would come, with seven races to go I can have that cup for myself... that's seven wins in a row, now I will get my eighth and maybe I will race in the 1989 season of the World Broom Racing Championship, I have the chance to be the youngest champion in the history of the event if I enter and I can still be the youngest to enter a race as I will still be 17 years old. But I don't doubt at all that I will end up being promoted to the European Broom Racing Championship, although it won't make much difference since there are regular brooms there and many more races in the year. Oh and I didn't even notice that the girls were waving at me...
- Good morning girls - I wave to them.
- Laura we are going to cheer you hard today at the race, you can be sure of that, - April said, I think she just woke up, that's why she looks weird and gentle like that.
- I know you will April, you have followed me since the beginning of this season, in fact even in other categories, you were watching my races, it is quite possible that my sister will be there too... Well, I'm going - I say, walking out the door with a suitcase in hand.
- Hey Laura, isn't it a little early? - Rose asked me.
- Not so much Rose, I usually always leave hours early to help the mechanics with anything broom related and we also have to be there at least an hour before the race starts, but I prefer to arrive as early as possible - I answer Rose who sends a signal with her thumbs up.
- Good luck girl, show them your running skills - said Rose smiling at me and April also sent the same signal, so I leave the room and close the door but first I think about something.
I think I'll invite someone else to watch the race with me... She deserves to have a good time, I just hope she has fun going racing with a broom, well... Let's go to the evil lair where she lives with that Beatrice... Fucking bitch. I go on my way normally along the way to the blue team's room, I even wave to some girls who pass by calling me, others who laugh at my outfit, until ironically I meet her in the middle of the way. What a coincidence, Cabbage comes towards me and immediately wonders where I am going.
- What are those clothes, Laura? Where are you going out? Are you going to drive a race car? - Cabbage asked, and that makes me giggle lightly.
- That's almost it Bern, I am going to Whittlebury, there is going to be a British Broom Racing Tour race and I have a great chance to be champion if I win this race, I was thinking of... invite you to watch this race... If you want to, because you are so nice and I wanted to give you the experience of watching a broom race in person.
- Of course I want to! Oh, can I come with you now? Is it okay if I go out with you? I just don't want to miss the time, would it bother me if I came earlier? - Bern asked, and I quickly shrugged, since it didn't matter to me.
- Sure, we can ride our brooms together to the race event, if you want I'll take you on my broom which is a little bit faster than a regular broom to the race event, just hold on tight, because it's really fast, I'll take advantage and guarantee you a privileged place in the grandstand to watch the race - I tell Bernadette who smiles at me... She is really cute, you know? I think I'm starting to find her an interesting person. Do I... No Laura... Run! Concentrate on the race! Today you win the title and you might even get Elizabeth Chapman to move me up a class at once, she might as well climb up, I'd be the youngest champion in history, she has a gold mine with me and she has no idea.
POV Bernadette:
Oh cool, Laura is going to take me to one of her races and I get to stay in a very privileged place, this girl is so nice. I think I am falling in love with Laura McLaren this way... She seems to be so nice, not for nothing, but I think I better control myself a little bit, but I can't, these feelings for Laura McLaren are getting stronger and stronger... Damn... Well, come on, this broom can't be that fast, Laura is probably just scaring me, she is all playful.
As soon as I mount on top we begin to take off and leave the Luna Nova building, until I feel all the speed that Laura was flying and I am extremely terrified, grabbing myself tightly around her waist? I didn't expect that, what kind of broom is this? Why all this speed? How can she fly so calmly like that, I am terrified just by not flying, imagine if I were flying.
- I see that someone got scared heh - Laura said laughing at me, but it wasn't funny, I was scared to death and she still makes a point of looking back.
- Look straight ahead! - I say, scolding Laura.
- Relax girl, a future broom champion can get a good view, I am looking forward... Sort of, but you get the point - Laura says until I show her my middle finger angrily which even surprises her and makes her focus more on the air.
After a traumatic session of flying at a speed I didn't know what it was, she lands at the circuit, where there was a broom race going on there, as soon as she arrives Laura is greeted by two redheads, they must have been her family, funny that they are all her size, the McLaren are quite short. Wow... They are such a close family... I even get a little jealous of Laura for being so happy with her family, I wish mine was like that, but my mother only sees me as an object of achievement...
- Hey Gingerbread, glad you could make it, we want you to win this title! Show us how fucked up you are my sister! Fuckin' do it! - Said the tall one... Who was her sister? Really? She must be her older sister. Gingerbread... What a cute nickname, I think I should give Laura a cute nickname... No Bernadette, don't fall in love with her.
- Show that you have all the skills, girl, and don't forget that later I'm going to interview you, don't go and talk dirty on open television, all of Ireland is watching you girl - said her mother until Laura looked at me, and I started to get all embarrassed.
- This here is my friend Bernadette Cavendish, I met her in Luna Nova, she is really nice, I also invited April and another friend of mine that I met there to watch the race, they will come later - Laura said while pointing at me.
- Ah hello Bernadette, you have a nice name girl, how interesting to see a Cavendish around here, I guess they must be pretty good friends, to put up with Laura, hahaha, my daughter hasn't been bothering you, right? - Said Laura's mother, she is actually quite funny.
- Oh of course not Mrs. McLaren, Laura is a very kind and amazing person - I answer her mother while I watched Laura and her sister "fighting" I just blushed because the taller one kept gesturing, something that seemed related to two scissors rubbing against each other, I think I understood what she meant.
- Hahaha, you don't need this cordiality girl, call me Joanne, I'm Laura's mother as you can tell and this one who is... Fuck Laura! Fuck Chelsea! You can't stay a minute without fighting! - Said Laura's mother who stopped the fight just in time when Laura was holding her sister's collar about to punch her.
- She started it, Mom - said Laura... Oh, how cute! She's like a little baby when she gets a scolding from her mother, she puts down that whole fucker pose, I loved seeing that, I loved her mother too.
- Apologize and go to your seats, I don't want to see my daughters with black eyes all over Ireland, and Chelsea, just be careful girl, just because you are in puberty you don't have to shamelessly talk about these things, you are still 12 years old girl, stop acting like a teenager, you are still a child, this is not the time to act naughty, especially in front of people you don't know, if it's with friends from school it's fine, but please behave, girl - What do you mean younger sister? The taller one is younger than the older one... How ironic man... On top of that she is twelve years old.
After a while they get along, I think it took about 5 minutes with both of them with their arms crossed, cheeks inflated and irritated with each other until gingerbread decided to surrender and apologized to her younger sister and they hug each other... Wow, these two are better sisters than me and... Daryl... They fight but they get along well, I see that from afar, that's the kind of sister relationship I wish I had. After the hug I went with Joanne and Chelsea to the box on the track, where there was a TV, sofa, everything in a small reserved room with an excellent view to the finish line, Laura went to the boxes of her team to get ready for the race. With the time passing the other girls also came, April, Rosemary even Eleanora Maria White came with them, I bet that it came the April's call, since she is always hitting on Laura and April all the time.
POV Laura:
Here we go, the race is here, I am ready to become the British Champion today, as soon as I arrive I am welcomed by the mechanics and also by Elizabeth Chapman who comes up to me with all the smile on her face. That day was also qualifying practice for the 1987 British GP in the World Broom Racing Championship, so the brooms of the top female racers were also on the track, what a fucking opportunity man.
- Here is my future champion, come with me girl, I have to do business with you - said Elizabeth calling me to the team truck, where I will gladly go, will she make a deal with me?
As soon as we arrived at the beautiful black and gold truck of the team with that Herald Special Player sponsorship, it could even be a cigarette brand, but everything was beautiful with that black and gold color scheme, it wasn't even the BBRT's truck, we got into the WBRC's truck trailer, what a bitch, as soon as we arrived she arrives with a briefcase in hand.
- Very well Laura McLaren, it is no secret that you are going to become champion today, well then, I can even offer you a place to race, but only in 1990 since you will be 18 years old and may be more experienced, for now I can put you as a test runner of the team until I get a race for you, understand that I don't want to risk putting an inexperienced runner in our team that already has a very solid duo - said Elizabeth already making up some excuses.
- So don't put me in as a test runner I want to run on a main broom, if you can't hire me for my age then let me run in the BBRT again next year and you will get more return, but if you really want to profit and get a successful career for your team, hire me for the 1988 season, I will help develop the whole broom design and on top of that bring the title in comfort. 1 million pounds for next year and you'll profit 100 times that with the money given for the builders' title plus the runners' title - I say, being very loud and clear with that deal, which makes Elizabeth start to laugh.
- You with 16 years old on a broom? Oh please girl, I don't throw money in the trash, as I said our duo will be Nena Angelis and Nancy Hethel, they both have victories and almost won the '86 and '84 titles, so we have a pair of very talented runners, I'm not going to throw my money in the trash, if you want to run next year for 200 thousand pounds I'll just make you an offer - said Elizabeth laughing at my face.
- Fine, waste your time with these two average runners, they won't hold off Russeau next year even more so since she has a great chance of winning the title this year, but tell me the proposition, I'll take the 200,000 pounds a year in 1988 - I tell Elizabeth.
- I doubt very much that you will make it, because if you don't, go to another team and try your luck next year, because I won't hire you. It will be very simple, get a time in the top 10 of this qualifying with the 1985 season's broom, let's see in this demonstration if you are really all that - said Elizabeth until I shook her hand with confidence, she thinks I won't make it, but well, I'll show that I can get a fucking time - And look, you only have 10 laps to get this time, it will be after qualifying and before your race, let's see if you can - she said pushing me.
- Okay, but don't regret it later, they are with the third best broom and I can make the first best, but since they disregard me - I shrug and just walk out of there in style.
POV Narrator:
Time went on Joanne was with the interviews with the female racers where after qualifying who ended up in pole position for that GP at WBRC was Alanna Russeau with a time of 1:10:876, which was a good time even it was almost 7 seconds from the 1:17:773 of Laura's pole position time the day before only an inferior broom, which showed how McLaren had a very high finesse with a slower broom compared to the more powerful brooms of another category, to the point that it was even enough to put her in 20th position if that time was considered.
At the cabin, Bernadette had to put up with all the time comments coming from Chelsea and April implying that she liked Laura, even more so because both of them liked Laura too, Eleanora was even laughing at that situation, while Cavendish was getting a little bit unfunny. Rosemary, on the other hand, went out once in a while to smoke, since smoking was forbidden inside the cabin, so she had to go to the balcony.
After qualifying comes the interesting part where Laura was to start the presentation laps, but before climbing on the broom she was interviewed by her mother Joanne who asked some questions regarding her career.
POV Laura:
- Here we are with this prodigious and very talented racer named Laura McLaren who has everything to be a future World Broom Racing Championship racer, she is going to test drive the 1985 season Leaf 100H, she is also the daughter of this journalist who has worked since she was 18 on this channel, myself, Joanne McLaren, so daughter, what are your pretensions for the future - Said my mother, embarrassing me for all of Ireland.
- Ah Joa... I mean mom, I am just doing a silly test, just to show Elizabeth that I am worthy of getting a chance, but you can be sure that I will become as great as Sarah Campbell, I will not just be remembered as a fast runner, you can be sure that in a few years you will see me wearing a championship garland, you can be sure that I will be responsible for making these races predictable because I will win them all? I'm kidding, I think I'm just going to race for the sake of racing and showing my best, so all the racers better train hard because Laura McLaren is going to come one day.
POV Narrator:
Laura gets in the Leaf 100H of 1985, she starts to drive some laps, and in the second lap she shows how she was a gobbler, without going all out, she already set the sixth best time of that day, that was still in a warm-up lap, which left the whole track open-mouthed with all that speed, until in the third lap, still warming up, McLaren set the third best time and in the fourth lap she beat the pole position by 2 tenths of second. The following laps were simply McLaren breaking record after record, taking the whole circuit and pushing the broom on the limit. Elizabeth Chapman broke her face at that point. Finishing those 10 demonstration laps with a time of 1:08:341, which was the record for that track, using a broom from two seasons ago.
POV Laura:
That broom is fucking horrible! How could Elizabeth make such a thing with all that structure, honestly old man, I could set a much better time than 1:08, but it's worth it, I think I managed to put myself in my place, I think this time they noticed how talented I am, well I put two seconds on top of pole position with a bad broom like that, and on top of that I put about 4 seconds on top of their 1987 broom, let's see how Elisabeth reacts, I will leave this broom in the pits. As soon as I arrive, they all clap and are impressed with me.
- Hey, I knew you would get Laura McLaren, your place next year is guaranteed, but what do you think of this broom? Fast, no? - said the asshole.
- It sucks, but let's get down to business, I have a title to win - I say to Elizabeth, as I get off my broom.
After some time warming things up it's time to go to the race, the brooms were ready, everything was in order, so I go to the track, where we will line up on the grid, against 25 other witches who also want that title, although I am already about to win in this race with 7 in advance. Well now it's just a matter of concentrating that I will become champion once again.
POV Narrator:
The time of the race arrives, it was the eighth edition of the 1987 season of the British Broom Racing Tour that had 15 races in the year, being considered only the ten best results in the year for the runner, what put an enormous weight in the victories and Laura had already won until then all the races of that year, the half of the season is marked by the complete Whittlebury circuit that is used in bigger broom racing events, like the World Broom Racing Championship. Laura had a wide points lead over second place and it was only a matter of time before she became champion.
At noon the clock strikes, the lights turn on, then they turn off and the start is given, Laura as usual has given an instant start, taking advantage of the faster vision to accelerate the broom in the exact time that the lights turn off, with this she leaves ahead, leaving none of the other twenty five runners. It was a 20-lap race, quickly McLaren took over the domination of that race.
It was impressive how she passed smoothly but at the same time in an aggressive way in each corner and this made her much faster than the other racers on the circuit, she used all that track to do the lightning laps, without having any fear of crashing in the corners, she took and put the broom on the limit, it was remarkable how she was driving above the average, even because half of the grid used brooms made by Leaf of the same model, only the adjustment was different for each team, but Laura was not only a fast racer, she also knew very well how to adjust the brooms.
After twenty laps she crossed the finish line with a lead of 51 seconds over the second placed runner and thus became the British Champion of the BBRT, it was a rare feat for a runner from outside the UK to get that title, which was a championship often won only by English or Scottish women, rarely by someone from outside those two countries, but the Irish Laura McLaren won.
POV Laura:
And one more race for my resume, this Whittlebury track is interesting, but these brooms are still very risky, it is very complicated to drive them, I hope Leaf improves for next year, I just wanted a broom that came in my hand so I could control it 100% with tranquility, these brooms are full of stuff, it doesn't look like I'm the one flying them, well as far as I can see everyone is celebrating, let's go back to the grid and celebrate this podium, I'm an old champion, I should be happy, but I'm not.
After taking a celebratory lap with an Irish flag that I took from one of the people in the audience, I return to the pits, where I leave my broom and am soon embraced by my whole team, who celebrated with me, then Chelsea came running towards me.
- Gingerbread! You got it my sister - Said my fucking sister jumping on me and making me almost fall, while the others clapped for me, until my mother arrives to interview me,,,, Obviously.
- So daughter, what an incredible race. Do you have someone to congratulate all that performance? - said my mother.
- Yes, to all the mechanics that helped me set up this broom and my skill, and also a little bit of cheering on your part, but that's it.
- I get it girl, what do you intend to do next season? Or will you jump to a higher category? - my mother asked.
- I will be going on to the BBRT next year, but don't wait too long, Laura McLaren will be a world champion one day, I will bring pride to all of Ireland and show how we are the most fo... Amazing witches of the world... Wha... Er... Oh Mum, you don't have to look at me like that, the whole of Ireland is going to end up seeing me being educated by my own mother.
After this interview came the podium ceremony where I was given a garland with "1987 Champion" written on it, and also the trophy of race champion, where I was celebrating and cheering up the crowd, until the moment of the champagne, where obviously I got there and doused the girls next to me, That was intentional just to make her open her eyes a little to the future champion that she is throwing away, after this podium ceremony I go out of there and I am received by the girls that came to see the race, they were all happy to see me like that.
- Damn Laura, you really fucking great girl, eighth race in a row you won and took the champion's trophy, this is going to be really fucked up in our dorm, besides what the girls are going to think, Beatrice is going to be in shock when she sees that she has a champion, even more because soon there is also the Luna Nova broom relay, said April... Wanting to make me a little angry.
- No fucking way! I'm not an egomaniac, these trophies will stay at home, I'm not the type to be doing this kind of thing... Oh and Chelsea, take them home, I'm going back to Luna Nova - I said to April with a bit of seriousness as I handed the garland and the trophy to Chelsea.
- It's going to look great in your trophy room, Sis. Daddy must be so proud to see you winning one more, and also Elisa, she must be so happy, she always wanted to be champion - said Chelsea, being nice to me, what a miracle. - asked my sister.
- One day sis, one day, for now your sis will get busy with the academy and her future, I'll take a little time to put up with this one and also see if anyone besides them want to respect me as I really am - I say to Chelsea who took my trophies and I put my running hat on her head.
After delivering the stuff and saying goodbye to my mom and Chelsea, we went back to Luna Nova, only this time cabbage got a little mad and said she didn't want to go with me just because I was with a very fast broom, go figure, what an exaggeration haha, I wasn't even with a broom that fast, but that's ok cabbage who is very in shock, so much so that we went back to normal speed, but even so I kept picking on her a little.
POV Bernadette:
Laura is very fast, I am impressed, if you take me for a ride she is fast like that, on the tracks she is even faster, I really don't know how a witch like that is that fast with a broomstick, she is in a league that is just hers in this, I can't imagine anyone who comes close to this girl's level, Laura is going to be a legendary witch with a broomstick... Although she is a joker now.
- I already told you I'm not going to hitch a ride on a broomstick with you anymore Laura, stop asking me that, but look, my congratulations, you are really an amazing witch on brooms, this way the broomstick relay won't be funny, I already know who will win - I tell Laura.
- So don't tell anyone about my career yet, leave the mystery in the air for Luna Nova, so that when I show up, I can show that I hide a fucking skill, just to cheer up that Beatrice and think she can beat me, I really want to make her break her face - Laura said which I kind of agree, Beatrice has to break that face a little.
POV Narrator:
After that race, the girls go to Luna Nova, where they split up and each go to their own room, with April deciding to go with Eleanora to the yellow team's room where they would "have fun", while Bernadette and Laura go with Rosemary to the red team's room, to play some video games, since Cavendish wanted to take advantage of the fact that she had free time on the weekend to do that.
See you, broom racers...