19

Adelaide

Dad and I travel with Tanya along the road. Dad rants about everything he went through. I do too, but it shocks me. He's been hiding a few truths. I should've not run away. I should've known, I should've known who he was, and I should've known sooner. Dad hasn't told much of the story to me, Caleb, and Zachary. I was wrong this whole time.

"I'm sorry, Adelaide, for everything," Dad says.

"What are you sorry for? You're the greatest racer. Well, Doc and Cruz are the greatest as well. You told such good stories about him. He won three Piston cups. Then, he lost in 1954. He quit. Somehow, he came to Radiator Springs and met you. You've known him for a long time. It was forever. You got along so well until…he passed away. Just look at the photo. It shows you and Doc got along," I say.

Dad eyes on the picture of him and Doc as the picture hangs on the wall. He's shocked when he sees the same picture of them training at Willy's Butte. Dad frowns. Was it really forever or was it just an illusion?

"How long have you actually known Doc?" I ask.

"We've known each other for three years," Dad says.

"Three years?"

"He knew everyone else longer. Well, he wasn't around when Cruz showed up, and it's obvious that he didn't get to see you three."

"Who else did Doc know?"

"The other residents."

Wait a minute, Doc was friends with everyone from our home town? I guess Dad didn't tell me much about Doc Hudson. The picture looks like Doc was friends with Dad and made it feel like forever, but it isn't what it seems.

"He knew Mom…and Mater?" I say.

"Yep," Dad says, "There was also his big wreck in '54."

"Wait a minute, I thought you were the first to crash."

"I remember two of them before mine, but I didn't see Doc's crash. I was about to tell you about it six years ago, but I had to stop. I didn't know his crash affected him so much."

"What do you mean? I thought he was the greatest racer. Was the three time champion a lie? Was he happy? What happened?"

"He actually won three Piston cups, but the racing world quit on him when he recovered from his crash."

I return home. Cruz, Caleb, Zachary, and I weren't there. I check the place out, and the main road has new pavement. The road hasn't reached the dead end yet. I followed the red racecar. Doesn't he look like Dad?

"Dad? Where are you going?" I ask, "Wait a minute, this was many years ago."

Dad headed toward the shed, and the doors remained open. The room looked like the same room Dad taught me and Caleb about his crash. A navy blue Hudson Hornet turned his back on him. I watch in front of the door. Doc Hudson would never be like this. I guess I was wrong.

"Doc, hold it, seriously," the racecar said, "Your driving's incredible!"

"Wonderful. Now go away!" The Hudson Hornet said.

"Hey, I mean it, you've still got it!"

"I'm asking you to leave!"

Leave?! Why make him leave?! Dad's nice! How could you demand him to leave! He was impressed by your driving! Is this how you pay him back?! Bitterness and resentment? Wasn't he your racing pupil?! What a liar.

"C'mon, I'm a racecar, and you're…a much older race car, but under the hood, you and I are the same!" Dad said.

"We are not the same!" Doc reversed himself out of the garage, and Dad turned around. I approach the young race car, "Understand?! Now get out?" Doc continued.

"How can a car like you quit at the top of your game?"

Doc approached back in. I enter the room, and I move in between them. Who was right? Doc? However, Doc Hudson was such a jerk. Zachary parks in Doc's place, and my younger self stands in Dad's. I guess I have to side with Dad.

"You think I quit?" Doc clicked on a light switch.

I approach the article underneath the light. Crash! Hudson Hornet Out For Season. "Season Ender Fender Bender Puts Young Hornet in Garage." Everything else faces me. I guess Doc Hudson's the bad guy. He's no great racer. He's awful. He's so awful, and I should yell at him.

"Right, your big wreck in '54," Dad said.

"They quit on me. When I finally got put together, I went back expecting a big welcome. You know what they said: 'You're history,' moved right on to the next rookie standing in line. There was a lot left in me. I never got a chance to show 'em. I keep that to remind me never to go back. I just never expected that that world..would find me here," Doc said.

I almost cry, but I must listen to all of it. Doc was no great racer. He was never happy, he looked down on my father, and all he did was put him down. I can no longer be loyal to the Fabulous Hudson Hornet anymore! He's more like the Awful Hudson Hornet!

"Hey, look, Doc, I'm not them," Dad said.

"Oh yeah?" Doc said.

"No, I'm not."

"When is the last time you cared about something except yourself, hot rod? You name me one time, and I will take it all back. Uh-huh? I didn't think so. These are good folk around here, who care about one another. I don't want 'em depending on someone they can't count on."

"Oh, like you? You've been here how long, and your friends don't even know who you are? Who's caring about only himself?"

"Just finish that road and get outta here!"

Everything fades away. Zachary has been like this. He put me down. I'm never good enough. A lump in my throat suffocates me. Doc was such a jerk, and his legacy doesn't deserve to live.

Dad hums a melody. The melody was vague. It almost sounded like the music box Mom played a long time ago. The melody was so…beautiful. The beginning always plays in my mind. Well, it's probably a little more than that.

It had one beat, followed by three beats along with another beat. Four beats go together alongside another two. Am I at Willy's Butte again? Me and my family all had that one drive together, but that's it. It just sounds nice.

"Wasn't this from a music box?" I say.

"You used to love the sound of music boxes," Dad says.

"It puts me to sleep."

We both laugh. They were childish, but the memories were vague. I was just a little girl. He played that? All I can dream about were the memories I had with Mom and Dad when we were happy. We were at Willy's Butte together.

"I'm sorry, kid," Dad says.

Dad tears up, and I comfort him. He was there the whole time. I should've known. I should've known everything. I should've known that Dad loved me the whole time whether I was a racer or not. I missed it all. I missed all the non-racing memories the whole time.

"You deserved better than that. Doc was such a jerk, and I didn't know," I say.

"Doc's right," Dad says.

"How was Doc right? He's a jerk! He treated you miserably! It's just like me and Zachary!"

"Calm down, kiddo. We were both jerks. Also, do you remember the story about the arrogant hotshot rookie who came to an abandoned town, destroyed its road, and was forced to fix that road?"

"'I think so. Also, was that story true?"

Dad must've told the story to me. It's so…familiar. It was about some hotshot rookie being stranded in a small, isolated town, and he learned humility. He said it was a true story about someone, but who was he? Who was that racer?

"Yeah," Dad says.

"I think I remember now. You didn't say anything about who the hotshot rookie was. If it was true, who was he?" I say.

"I'm the arrogant hotshot rookie! Well, he used to be me until I suffered and bonded with everyone in the town for a week. Besides, it's been thirty-two years since the day I came to town," Dad says, "I was about to win, but my tires blew up."

"How?"

"I refused to take a pit stop."

I was at the Motor Speedway of the South. It was the Dinoco Four Hundred. Three racers remain. I wait at my father's old pit stop. No one noticed me. It wouldn't have mattered since I didn't exist yet.

Dad hasn't taken a single pit stop. This isn't right. What happened to the old pit crew? None of my family and family friends were here. I check on Dad on the screen. Please let this be a dream! Please let this be a dream! I remain at the same place. It's not.

"McQueen's not going into the pits!" a commentator said.

"You know, the rookie just fired his crew chief. That's the third one this season!" another commentator said.

"Well, he says he likes working alone, Darrell."

Everyone got back. Dad fired three crew chiefs?! Dad would've known better! Cruz knew! This can't be Dad! This can't be him! However, these were his memories. I can't ignore it. I can't ignore it at all. Whatever Dad's saying is true, you have to bear it.

Dad came to his pit stop. Finally! He should know better this time! That's what he gets for not taking a pit stop. Where do I stand? I have to side with Dad. He's my father, and I have to side with my family. However, I'm not the daughter of some monster! I swear I'm not! Our family name isn't true to what we believe.

"You need tires now, c'mon, let's go!" One of the pit crew members said.

"No, No, No, No! No tires! Just Gas!" Dad said.

Dad drove away. I guess it was a ruse. How could he do this to them? He was never like this in front of my family or family friends. It drives me insane. I'll never forget this. I was living a lie the whole time. How could I? How could I not know the lies?

"You need tires, you idiot!" the pit crew member said.

"Looks like it's all gas-and-go's for McQueen today," a commentator said.

"That's right. No tires again," another commentator said.

"Normally, I say that's a short-term gain, long term loss, but it's sure workin' for him. He obviously knows something we don't know.

Dad was still in the lead. This was the final lap. He was near the finish line, but it might not last long. Who knows?! The competitors might catch up to him, and win instead. Well, it's probably Chick Hicks and the King left. Where did the other competitors go?

"Checkered flag! Here I come," Dad's voice roared on screen.

A tire explodes. Uh oh, he's not going to make it. The pitties were infuriated. Poor pit crew members. They didn't have a crew chief organizing the pit, and Dad refused to pit for tires. It's just awful.

"You fool!" A pit crew member said.

Another pitty knocked a shelf of tires. They weren't having it anymore. What a sickening racer. Doc was probably right too. What should I believe? It seems like both sides are awful, but isn't there supposed to be any good? They're probably not. It's so awful to think these racing greats were good.

Chick Hicks and The King gain on Dad, Dad loses another tire, and Chick Hicks and The King are getting closer. Dad almost reaches the finish line. However, he, the King, and Chick Hicks make it at the same time.

The old press interviewed Dad. The old press didn't care. They just look at him like some god just like I did. I swear they were happy all their lives, and I swear they were perfect. They're not.

The press is so focused on the fame and skills the racers put on, and they look at Dad for being amazing when he's just a monster. I'm so mad at them and Dad, but I can't be. Well, I can be mad whenever I want! They won't notice me! I didn't exist yet.

"We're here in victory lane awaiting race results. McQueen, that was quite a risky move not taking tires," the reporter said.

"Tell me about it," a pitty said.

"Are you sorry you didn't have a crew chief out there?" the reporter continued.

"Oh, Kori, there's a lot more to racing than just winning. I mean taking the race by a full lap, where's the entertainment in that? No, no, I wanted to give folks a little sizzle," Dad says.

Sizzle? What kind of sizzle? It doesn't seem like it. That just looks like you're humiliating yourself in front of everyone! That stunt was dangerous, and you should've known better! No wonder your old pitties hated you.

"Sizzle?" a pitty asked.

"Am I sorry that I don't have a crew chief? No, I'm not. Cause I'm a one-man show," Dad said.

"What? Oh, yeah right."

"That was a very confident Lightning McQueen. Coming to you live from Victory Lane, I'm Kori Turbowitz."

I stay behind the camera. A pit crew member was blocking the way. This whole Dinoco Four Hundred is sickening and awful. I wish I was in a dream, but I'm not. I'm in Dad's reality, his truth. It's best to deal with it.

"Hey, get out of the shot!" A cameraman beside me said.

"Yo, Chuck, what are you doing? You're blocking the camera! Everyone wants to see the bolt!" Dad said.

"What?!" Chuck says.

"Now, back away."

"THAT'S IT! Come on guys!

The pitties drop my dad's side onto the ground hard. That's what Dad gets for messing with his pit crew. He deserves it. He deserves to lose it all right in front of everyone. He lost his pit crew, and he fired three crew chiefs. Such awfulness.

"OW! Whoa, team! Where are you going?" Dad said.

"WE QUIT, MR. ONE-MAN SHOW!" Chuck said.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, okay, leave. Fine!" Dad laughs, "How will I ever find someone else to fill me up with gas?"

The crowd laughs, but I don't laugh with them. I don't laugh at all. I'm infuriated at this, but no one notices anyways. I didn't exist yet. Dad's nothing but selfish and a liar! I should say that to him, but it's not right. I can't disrespect him like this! I would've felt bad enough if I disrespected my parents.

"Adios, Chuck!" Dad continued.

"AND MY NAME'S NOT CHUCK!" the pit crew member said.

"Oh, whatever."

I'm back in my trailer, and the crowds are gone. This can't be! I can't believe him! He hid his past from me and my brothers! What a liar! His lies hurt me, and my brothers don't even know. Dad has to tell the truth soon. Our family would shatter beneath our tires. Caleb and Zachary would be devastated, and Mom would too.

"Dad, why didn't you want to tell me?" I say.

"I thought you're gonna hate me, and I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. I'm so sorry for everything, Adelaide," Dad says.

"Tell me more. I think the hotshot rookie became humble at the end? Right? But how?"

"Yeah, during my tiebreaker race in LA. I was struggling to beat Chick Hicks. I've learned my lesson. However, Doc helped me win the race as his crew chief. All of the other residents helped as well. I was about to win, but Chuck Hicks crashed the King. It reminded me of Doc's crash. I gave up my Piston Cup to help the King finish his last race. He didn't deserve it, and I got everyone's respect."

"I'm so sorry for not acknowledging your problems. Also, if you and Doc had problems. Did Cruz have problems too?"

Cruz must've had these problems as a racer too, right? If Dad and Doc had these problems, Cruz would…too. How bad would it be compared to Doc and Dad? Would it be the worse out of all of them, or would it be something different than that?

"Yeah, but it wasn't so bad. She wanted to race, but she was too scared. She couldn't take her shot, but I gave up racing for her. She can beat Jackson Storm. I couldn't. I didn't leave racing for good as I became Cruz's crew chief," Dad says.

"And that's how the Hudson Hornet Racing Legacy came to be?" I say.

"Yep, and Cruz wanted to pass it down to you."

"I should thank her."

I make sure Tanya drives to Charleston hospital. I hope Caleb's here. I almost forgot. I guess the long talk made everything fly by. Leah's got to be alright, and she probably won't be irritated with how upset Dad and I were. Would Leah even be fazed by this or not?

"Tanya, are we almost there yet? I lost track of time," I say.

"We're almost there," Tanya says.

The hospital zooms in and towers above me. We're almost there, Caleb.