Sorry for the longer wait in posting, though I'll probably try to keep it at least a wees long wait from now on so long as im interested in this story. I had to completely redo the plot for this chapter. Anyways, enjoy, Imma make a for sale sign for my car now so i can start saving up for a real life hornet cuz im crazy.
"You can explore, but don't enter the room we'll be in." That was all Doc told me as we drove down towards Reds.
The fire station was one of my favourite buildings in town. It was the only one to look truly ancient, older than the neon era of the majority of working buildings here, that was still maintained. It made it seem to naturally draw people in, so I guess it's good it's squat in the middle of the end of Main Street.
At the end of Main Street the road went into a T. I thought we were heading to Reds, why I followed Doc and Sheriff. Or, pleaded to be allowed to tag along. Instead we turned to our left, and on our left was another building.
It was another abandoned building, dusty and faded, but one built of small grandeur. It had wooden pillars intricately carved and a large door much like that of the entrance to the court house that Doc spent half his time at. Little like I was at that age, only just about to turn eleven, I mostly just thought it looked like a miniature and abandoned version of said courthouse and treated it as so.
It was not a court house, and when we entered, me slightly disappointed at not visiting red, the floor was a red wood planking, with what we're probably once intricate carvings along the trim of the walls. There was a desk, rotting, near the back of the room, and also at the back a hall going off to the left and to the right.
Thoroughly confused at that point, forgetting my disappointment I asked.
"What is this place?"
"Town hall. Now watch here son, the ground is gonna creak, but if you feel it start to bend or give, back away. This place is near ready to cave in at the touch of a breeze."
And so, I followed them down the hall to the right, until they entered a room. Remembering the rules set, I stayed behind. I looked up and around me before setting off to explore my surroundings. That was usually all there was to do anyways if I wasn't speeding around Willy's Butte with Sheriff's supervision or hanging out with some of my family.
Later, watching a sunset besides Doc at the Wheel Well, I'd asked about the Town Hall, why it was so small and dilapidated compared to the other lost buildings in town. Later as in two or three years later. He had responded with.
"From what I know, Stanley always thought there something better to upgrade, to invest in or start anew. In his mind, what good is a grand town hall with no town to surround it?"
And that was that. After thinking it over, as the sun's light died I realised Stanley seemed pretty smart, in his own way. Not many would think of town hall like that, especially as I came across other ghost towns along Route 66, a road trip I ended up taking with a woman named Sally in my first year of adulthood.
It did not take long for me to grow bored of the building. It was mostly empty and any room you couldn't go far into its middle, Les the wooden planks start to bend under your weight. So in little less than five minutes I found myself hovering outside the door that obscured the presence of Doc and Sheriff.
I waited impatiently, pouting but knowing I couldn't leave with telling them, but that it'd also be rude to interrupt them. My disdained outlook was killed with curiosity when I heard Sheriff speak not just angrily but with a raised voice as well. His anger was more of a grave anger, not more raw like then.
"And how will we afford that?" That was the phrase.
And so I pressed myself to the door, despite knowing better. Curiosity killed that cat, and I guess that part was true, as well as the other half of the saying. I can never remember the second half, even now.
"We'll make it manage, I still get the occasional clients from other parts of the valley. We just won't use it for anything spontaneous like we tend to. It'll be like loaning ourselves."
"Banks must have despised you." Was Sheriff's quip. He was using that grave tone like the usual anger now.
"Loved me." And there was the cocky, self assured tone of voice that sometimes popped out of Doc, though it was rare.
"You know that won't bring in enough money, anyways. We're living off of savings. Stanley was a smart man, but all that investing left us with scraps."
"I know. We can't stay here forever. Looks like we've got, what, eight or ten years left?"
"If we're lucky."
By now I figured what they were discussing was on money. I had wondered where the gas came from, the electricity. It had been told to me these necessities had to be paid for but that was it.
Ten years? By then I'd be an adult, by I didn't want to leave here. Not permanently, and if the others started leaving... Where would they go? How would I be able to seem them all? How would we all have a family dinner together if we weren't in one town together, if we didn't have Aunt Flo's Cafe?
Rules be damned, I was so terrified of the idea of having to abandon the place, just young enough for my imagination to run wild, I left the building without tell. The cob webs, the rotting wood and musty smell, it felt like a trap of what was to come. Suddenly this already small Town Hall was now too small, about to collapse in on me.
But even as I left, rolling down Main Street faster than normal without speeding, the discussion of Sheriff's and Doc's, the impending future the Town Hall reeked of haunted me. Every home, Fillmore's hut, Ramone's Body and Paint Shop, Doc's Clinic, every safe place for fun breaks from the sun, The Courthouse, Flo's V8 Cafe, Sarge's Barrack, Luigi and Guido's Cassa Della Tires, every spot in town I noticed and loved suddenly seemed empty, hopeless. What joy is there if it will all just become like the rest of the town? Ten years till we'd have to leave and in my panic everything was already a ghost town in that moment.
So I turned around and fled, back to the Fire Station, taking a right out of town, and immediately pushed myself as fast as possible to Willy's Butte. Another rule be damned, Sheriff would find me there eventually.
I knew I could not run away, but I wanted to escape the feeling of despair. Driving round and round let me, it let me imagine I was flying away, air carving around me, splitting. Speeding, flying away, like I could just leave my worries behind.
I remember somewhat a dark place with fear and hushing, but mostly growing up hear. From harsh lectures, mocking tones and hidden approval from Doc, explaining conversations with Sheriff saying 'don't let Doc get you down.', from authentic aunts and uncles, from the warm heat of fall, the pleasant winter and burning sun. From fun lessons to exploration and long hours playing at the Butte, from these memories came my childhood. I'd grown up in Radiator Springs with its eccentric family, I loved each and every one of the towns folks.
Losing them, is all being spread about... Beyond Radiator Springs was terrifying. I didn't even know what was beyond the town and the empty county then, Radiator Springs may as well have been the only town left living in the portion of Route 66 it resides on.
The fear wouldn't leave, so I pressed on, tears in my eyes, engine screaming and tight, breath ragged, flying. But all who fly must soon return to Earth. And I returned to Earth by first going truly airborne, if only for a second. Then I was falling, then sliding down a hill first sideways, then backwards as in my panic I somehow managed to turn when I almost toppled by being sideways.
After, I was met with the only character in Radiator Springs I was yet to introduce myself to. I had just fallen into the pit of Cacti I had been warned of for years.
I was a near man in my eyes then, I was just barely not eleven, and proud as a cat catching prey. But then, in the cacti, all alone and scared, all alone and in pain, terrified and stuck for who knows how long, I began to cry.
As Doc and Sheriff retold it, apparently they found me within thirty minutes of my disappearing from Town Hall. It felt longer, but by then my tears had dried, and I refused to let it be known I was sobbing just moments beforehand.
At the scene was only Sheriff and Doc. Sheriff sent Doc off to retrieve Mater and then drove down to the edge of that fourth turn. "You okay son?"
I nodded, then realised he probably couldn't hear me. I sighed. "Yes."
As Mater came to tow me back up he was chuckling the whole time doing so. Eventually I snapped at him to stop laughing at me, though in hindsight he probably didn't know what I had just dealt with emotionally. I was lead by him and Sheriff back to Town, where Doc were waiting for our return.
He silenced, and at my father's request, left us alone at Willy's Butte. Sheriff and Doc both spoke the same time.
"What were you doing racing here alone?"
"What we're you doing racing here?"
Doc paused, before almost glaring at Sheriff. Suddenly the fear was back, but rather a different fear, a more apprehensive one for me and Sheriff.
"What do you mean? Has he been racing here before?"
Sheriff didn't miss a beat, he missed the whole question, instead staring at me and using that grave danger sort of voice.
"What were you doing out here, Lightnin? And why'd you leave us without telling?"
Now I was in a predicament, despite emotions claiming otherwise I did not want to cry in front of them. Despite the fact I'd probably get in trouble for hiding the truth, I may very well get in trouble for eavesdropping and hearing the dim prophecy that sent me into such a frenzied panic.
Though in the end, the strong frowns, the set downwards turn in their chrome fronts got me to buckle. Sinking towards the ground, I spoke low, averting their gaze.
"I heard you guys talking, I don't want us to leave Radiator Springs! I got upset, and I came here. I'm... I'm sorry."
"Well that answers one question. Now Sheriff, what about mine to you?"
It took Sheriff a second to register what was being asked of him. When he did he almost looked like a dear caught in the headlights, though not truly. Not much shakes up the guy in terms of fear.
He must have figured it'd be better to tell Doc then play dumb. Even in the moment I agreed, too preoccupied to be upset at him spilling our secret.
"Yep, I've been taking him out here, lettin him run around here. He's actually pretty fast."
It was short but the grimace was there. Then Doc asked me.
"Why didn't you tell me? I know a few tips that'll help you."
I could have answered the question, being that Doc seemed to outright dislike the track at times, but instead was distracted at the second half of what he spoke.
"Really? You can help me?"
"I guess. Took a few laps myself on some tracks for fun, won't hurt you none. For fun." The last for fun was a near inaudible mumble.
Before I could let my enthusiasm shine further, Sheriff put his own two cents in.
"I ain't ever seen you take a turn on this track, Doc."
"You didn't ever see me 'fore I came here to this town."
By now I was pondering yet again my fate after breaking so many rules. Begrudgingly I caught the two elder cars attention and asked about my punishment.
Sheriff looked to Doc and we waited. Doc always gave the punishment or talking too, and if the others thought it too harsh, Sheriff was always the easy delegator.
Finally Doc turned away, surprisingly heading back towards Willy's Butte, that or the wheel well. He called for me to follow him. I was nervous, usually a drive or a call to be away from Sheriff meant a talking to. Or a discussion, which weren't half as bad but just as humiliating.
This time it was just a discussion. "You got pretty upset there huh? Hearing that we might have to leave here."
"Don't say it. I want to forget it." I grumbled.
"Then I'll say it more. You can't run from the truth, then it either finds you again or haunts you. Trust me, I know."
"How?"
"When you're older."
We neared the Butte, and the silence was somehow not uncomfortable. Even when you couldn't figure out if Doc was mad or not, silences were never awkward with him. If he wanted to say something he'd say it, impertinent or not.
"You know, maybe one day we could come back here. Find the money somehow."
"You mean we might really need to leave?"
"Yes, but you'll already be leaving every day soon to work at a job."
"I don't want a job then."
"Well you can't live here forever, kid." Doc had a way of making kid sound completely different, one day it's a nice nickname and the next it stings. That time it stung. "How about you go down there and show me what you got, no cacti this time."
I startled, looking at him incredulously. "You mean... I can still use it? I'm not in trouble?"
"No. Just be glad you weren't hurt. Rule number one in racing, no driving while emotional."
"How would you know?" The look Doc gave me was one that said Really? And said, how about you look at what happened when you sped emotionally. So I shut up with what dignity I had left and made my way down to the dirt track.
By the time I finished three laps Doc called me back. He looked almost conflicted, thinking back now. Like half of him was giving the critique begrudgingly and the other half was amused, a glint in his eyes.
"You're really sloppy on that last turn. You almost spin out every time."
"Well it's that or slow to a snails pace."
"No, there's other ways... You'll learn when neither of those methods work anymore. Come on, let's get heading back."
I groaned, sad to be leaving already. Doc quipped back with a "Be grateful you aren't getting grounded. Besides, you should probably head over to Fillmore's to read."
That perked my mood.
"Hey little hippie, how are you doing man?" Fillmore greeted me.
"Good! I almost got in trouble, but Doc decided to just talk with me instead. He found out about my secret."
"Which one?" I always told Fillmore my secrets. He never told them to others, and seemed to love hearing them if it meant he could ramble on about his 'hippie' stuff and play his music to someone who'd actually listen.
"About Willy's Butte. I thought Doc would be mad but he wasn't. He wasn't exactly happy either... But still."
"He's usually grumpy, doesn't relax enough probably, notice the peace."
"Maybe, are we gonna meditate?"
"Nah, told you I don't do it much anymore. What do you want to read today little hippie?"
"Uhm actually... I was wondering if you could tell me your own stories. Like before you came here."
"Oh. Uhhhh... I mean you do read good already... Can't hurt to skip one day of reading. What can I tell at your age."
It was true, at ten I was already reading quite large novels. There wasn't much to do here in town, and learning filled my time. While Reading was okay, the real fun was getting to visit the musty library hidden along main street. Since there were no due dates anymore thanks to it being abandoned, we'd take as many books as we could, then return them later. Whatever ones I liked I would keep. I had a steady collection of books growing in my room now at Doc's Clinic.
Fillmore disappeared further into his tent, off to fix drinks for us. Sarge loved to bug Fillmore, saying it should be illegal the crap he feeds me for a snack. And right on cue Fillmore always responds with "Sheriff inspected it himself, police approved man." And Sarge would give a stout "Harumph."
Another thing that often happen would be Sarge getting on Fillmore filling my head with all this tree hugger crap. Again, Fillmore always responded along the lines of "You teach him all your military stuff, he can choose which he prefers."
Somehow, despite how weird it could sound depending on the topic of bickering, Fillmore's reasoning always made more sense compared to Sarge's acute accusations.
Fillmore returned with drinks and we settled down, him against a giant bean bag and me against him. He seemed like a cuddle-bug, always close to someone and never minding me snuggling up to him, even as I was near eleven, or even twelve. And so we sat, and Fillmore began his story. This story was about a business he and some friends ran, a prototype of his fuel business now. He even told me of some of the more illegal stuff they sold, and how they almost got caught away. Almost. So basically he told me hot up get away from the cops if they start catching on to you. Great lesson for a kid.
