Part 9-EPILOGUE
It was another sparkling cloudless summer day and the Mach 5 was roaring around the Pops Motors test track, as usual, looking as if it could take flight. Pops and Sparky were watching Speed maneuver the car, cornering with perfect grip at top speed, but while observing Speed's progress, Pops was busy talking into a set of headphones.
"Okay, Trix, how'd that last lap look?" he spoke into the mouthpiece.
"Pretty good, Pops. He's handling the banking and the turns really well."
"Let him know his progress," Pops directed then headed into the garage.
Speed was rounding Turn Three when his radio came to life with a sweet, slightly husky voice. "Looking good down there, Speed. Camber's good and your time's getting better with each lap."
Speed grinned as he picked up his mike. "Thanks, Trix. How about taking a break?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Groovy. I'll see you when you land."
"Roger."
He pulled the Mach 5 up to the starting line, cut the motor, shed his helmet, and leaped out to join his mechanic and his father. Sparky held the clipboard over so Speed could see the lap times and they were discussing track conditions when the whirring sound of a landing helicopter on the apron of the straightaway drew their attention. Speed couldn't help but grin as he saw two shapely legs emerge from the side of the chopper as Trixie exited the craft and made her way over. She walked up to Speed, who put his arm around her.
"How were the lap times?" she asked Sparky.
"Here, see for yourself." He handed the clipboard over to Trixie. "Best times yet."
"What else," she said grinning proudly at Speed. He blushed slightly, pleased enough to burst. Sparky made a faux gag as Speed threw a punch at him and Trixie tittered.
Pops strode up to the trio of jovial young adults. He addressed Trixie as he brought out a folded bundle of fabric. "Trixie, here's something for you."
Puzzled, she glanced at Speed but he shrugged so she shook open the bundle. With a delighted cry she noted the two tank tops, t-shirts, and vests with matching slacks all with "G" embroidered in floss on the upper left of the front of each garment.
"Oh Pops, these are groovy! Thanks so much!" She reached over to the Racer patriarch and kissed him on his leathery cheek, bring a blush to the big man.
"I hope the size is right. I asked Mom to help me since she knows more about women's sizes and all," Pops said beaming. "Now you're officially a member of the Go Team!"
Trixie was overwhelmed. She looked at Speed but was taken back at his frown and doubtful expression. Perplexed, she inquired, "Speed, what's wrong?"
He shook his head, "Nope, you're not an official member of the team. Not yet."
Trixie's eyes clouded. "What?"
Pops looked strangely at his son. "What do you mean 'not yet'? She signed the contracts yesterday." He was getting annoyed but Sparky caught a very subtle, playful glint in his best friend's eyes that over rode his otherwise serious expression and nudged Pops. Pops then caught on and he and Sparky discreetly headed for the garage.
Trixie was totally in the dark and in a slightly hurt tone she asked, "What else do I have to do?"
Speed studied her in an earnest manner. "You haven't been initiated," he informed her matter-of-factly.
"Initiated?" she echoed.
"Uh-huh. Before you can be part of the Go Team, you gotta be initiated."
Trixie took a deep breath. "What do I have to do to be initiated?"
"Oh, just this," Speed said as he gently cupped her face in his hands and drew her mouth to his in a long lingering kiss. Sparky and Pops watched with approval from the garage.
END
It was another sparkling cloudless summer day and the Mach 5 was roaring around the Pops Motors test track, as usual, looking as if it could take flight. Pops and Sparky were watching Speed maneuver the car, cornering with perfect grip at top speed, but while observing Speed's progress, Pops was busy talking into a set of headphones.
"Okay, Trix, how'd that last lap look?" he spoke into the mouthpiece.
"Pretty good, Pops. He's handling the banking and the turns really well."
"Let him know his progress," Pops directed then headed into the garage.
Speed was rounding Turn Three when his radio came to life with a sweet, slightly husky voice. "Looking good down there, Speed. Camber's good and your time's getting better with each lap."
Speed grinned as he picked up his mike. "Thanks, Trix. How about taking a break?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Groovy. I'll see you when you land."
"Roger."
He pulled the Mach 5 up to the starting line, cut the motor, shed his helmet, and leaped out to join his mechanic and his father. Sparky held the clipboard over so Speed could see the lap times and they were discussing track conditions when the whirring sound of a landing helicopter on the apron of the straightaway drew their attention. Speed couldn't help but grin as he saw two shapely legs emerge from the side of the chopper as Trixie exited the craft and made her way over. She walked up to Speed, who put his arm around her.
"How were the lap times?" she asked Sparky.
"Here, see for yourself." He handed the clipboard over to Trixie. "Best times yet."
"What else," she said grinning proudly at Speed. He blushed slightly, pleased enough to burst. Sparky made a faux gag as Speed threw a punch at him and Trixie tittered.
Pops strode up to the trio of jovial young adults. He addressed Trixie as he brought out a folded bundle of fabric. "Trixie, here's something for you."
Puzzled, she glanced at Speed but he shrugged so she shook open the bundle. With a delighted cry she noted the two tank tops, t-shirts, and vests with matching slacks all with "G" embroidered in floss on the upper left of the front of each garment.
"Oh Pops, these are groovy! Thanks so much!" She reached over to the Racer patriarch and kissed him on his leathery cheek, bring a blush to the big man.
"I hope the size is right. I asked Mom to help me since she knows more about women's sizes and all," Pops said beaming. "Now you're officially a member of the Go Team!"
Trixie was overwhelmed. She looked at Speed but was taken back at his frown and doubtful expression. Perplexed, she inquired, "Speed, what's wrong?"
He shook his head, "Nope, you're not an official member of the team. Not yet."
Trixie's eyes clouded. "What?"
Pops looked strangely at his son. "What do you mean 'not yet'? She signed the contracts yesterday." He was getting annoyed but Sparky caught a very subtle, playful glint in his best friend's eyes that over rode his otherwise serious expression and nudged Pops. Pops then caught on and he and Sparky discreetly headed for the garage.
Trixie was totally in the dark and in a slightly hurt tone she asked, "What else do I have to do?"
Speed studied her in an earnest manner. "You haven't been initiated," he informed her matter-of-factly.
"Initiated?" she echoed.
"Uh-huh. Before you can be part of the Go Team, you gotta be initiated."
Trixie took a deep breath. "What do I have to do to be initiated?"
"Oh, just this," Speed said as he gently cupped her face in his hands and drew her mouth to his in a long lingering kiss. Sparky and Pops watched with approval from the garage.
END