Author's Note: Here's chapter 1-the real story where the seeds of discord are sown and sets the stage for the plot to take off—thanks for reading and reviewing.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
The midday sun was at it zenith, standing sentinel over the Pops Motors racetrack, sending rays down to bake the asphalt and help the racing white machine to grip to the apron of the track as it barreled around making its laps. Up above, a royal blue helicopter with a rakish red stripe down its side hovered above, its propeller blades whirring, competing with the roar of the racecar as it followed its trek. But also, with each lap around, a group of nubile adolescent females squealed in excitement, cheering the driver on.
Finally, the white car with the "M" on the hood slowed down and pulled over to the side by the garage, and the driver extracted himself from the cockpit and hurdled the side, much to the delight of his spectators. Speed Racer removed his helmet and uncovered his classically handsome visage, wavy coal black hair and vivid blue eyes which elicited another girlish peel from the seats where his crew chief and father were striding over from.
Sparky Sabu, his crack mechanic and best friend ambled over, clipboard and stopwatch in hand. "Those were terrific times, Speed. Your best today."
"Good work, son," Pops Racer chortled, a rare grin spread across his jowls. "You'll be unstoppable in the Southern Hemisphere Grand Prix."
"Hold on Pops. I gotta win the Great Lakes Road Rally first," Speed protested good-naturedly.
"You will," his father said confidently. "Every race you run you're proving yourself to be best of the best."
Speed grinned in pride as the flapping of helicopter blades drew his attention to the infield and the blue chopper gently touched down. His eyes watched intently as the helicopter engine died down and then as the hatch slid open a petite lissome figure daintily alit from the craft. Cinnamon capris covering trim hips and a pink tank top was the attire of a delicately pretty girl with pert chestnut curls, a cherry red Cupid's bow mouth and eyes the color of fresh spring grass. She scurried over to where Speed, Sparky, and Pops were standing.
"That was wonderful. Speed," Trixie Shimura's husky voice bubbled as she smiled, showing pearl like teeth.
Speed returned the smile as he felt his heart skip a beat, the customary reaction he had whenever Trixie was around. She officially was acknowledged as his girlfriend now but she still caused a thrill to run through him like she did the day he first laid eyes on her.
"Thanks Trixie," he said, running his hand through his hair and blushing in pleasure as her approval radiated at him, bathing him in warmth like the summer sunshine. "It's only 'cause I got a groovy spotter workin' for me." He placed his hands on Trixie's soft shoulders as he drew her closer, their lips inches apart when they were interrupted by a strident call.
"Yoo hoo! Speedy!" the gaggle of girls that were watching Speed do his practice laps was streaming down from the bleachers and came his way led by a very persistent girl with a mane of red gold hair. She detached herself from the group to push Trixie aside and wrap her arms around his nonplussed form, his cobalt eyes wide in surprise.
"Well! Humph!" Trixie sniffed tossing her head in disgust as she was lost in the shuffle and ended up near Sparky.
Sparky stared at the girls fawning over Speed who was overwhelmed but friendly as the redhead, named Sally monopolized his attention as she draped herself on him. He noticed the green fire in Trixie's eyes and he reached a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Relax Trix. It's just part of being a local celebrity, Speed's crazy about you."
Trixie ignored him as she called out, "Speed, I need to talk to you. Speed!"
The young racer was absorbed in the adulation of his fans and seemed oblivious to anything else as the girls surrounded him, closing him off from everyone.
Trixie watched as Sally planted a kiss on Speed's cheek as he appeared to burst into giggles and her anger grew. "Oh sure, he really looks like he's got me on his mind right now. OHHH!" And she stormed over to her helicopter.
From where he was, Speed spotted Trixie's eminent departure and disentangled himself. "Excuse me, girls." He ran after the retreating figure of the trim spotter. "Hey Trixie, wait up I want to talk to you! Trixie!"
She continued to the hatch of the blue helicopter and hopped into the pilots' seat just as Speed caught up to her. Panting he grasped the opening, keeping her from closing the hatch.
"Hey, where're ya going? Later when I'm done at the track for the day I thought we could grab a bite and go for a ride."
She huffed, "Are you sure you won't be…busy?" She tossed her head at the group congregating at the Mach 5.
Speed ran a hand through his hair and said placatingly, "Aw come on, baby. You know those girls are only fans. I can't snub my fans now, can I?"
Trixie sighed as she replied, "I'm not saying you snub them but a little restraint on your part may help them not to be so…physical."
Speed climbed into the chopper's cockpit, sat beside her and looped his arm around his irate girlfriend. "Being physical isn't so bad, is it?" he asked softly as he nuzzled Trixie's neck, sending a delicious thrill through her. She felt her irritation ebb away.
"Not when it's us but," she began but Speed's lips silenced her with a kiss as he mounted a tender assault on her, teasing her mouth open to receive him.
He continued kissing her and then slowly backed away as he murmured, "Yeah, being physical definitely has its up side, don't you agree?"
Trixie tried to break the spell he was weaving. "Speed, stop it. I'm mad at you."
He looked at her with wide boyish charm oozing from every pore and radiating from his thick lashed ocean eyes. "Aw come on, are you gonna be mad at me forever? I'm really sorry, honey." He hit her with his puppy dog eyes and she was undone.
"Oh all right," Trixie said grudgingly as she relented. "I forgive you."
"Groovy! Baby, you're the greatest!" Speed crowed as he hugged her tight. A whistle from Sparky where he and Pops were impatiently waiting for him sounded, prompting Speed to exit the craft.
"Well, back to the salt mines. Are you gonna go back up and spot for me?"
Trixie shook her head. "Sorry, I have some things to do before we go tomorrow."
Speed regarded her quizzically. "Tomorrow? What's happening tomorrow?"
She turned her head straight as she replied flatly, "See, I knew you'd forget."
"Forget what?" his mind was a blank.
Trixie sighed as she answered, "Tomorrow's Saturday and you promised to take me to the Amazing Great Lakes Aerial Exposition. The air show taking place near Saginaw."
Speed nodded in slow realization. "Oh yeah."
Trixie studied him as she pointed out, "You promised when I told you all about it that you'd take me. It's on a Saturday so you wouldn't have to practice, that's what you said."
He glanced worriedly at his father's apoplectic expression and said quickly, "Yeah, yeah sure. Okay, I gotta split now or Pops'll blow a gasket so I'll call you later. Bye." He hurried back over to the Mach 5 as the groupies gathered around him again.
Trixie reached and slammed the hatch shut. She sighed in resigned annoyance as she flipped the ignition switch and the propellers began to whirl so she could make her ascent. She then donned a pair of sunglasses and once at the altitude she preferred for flying, headed to her airfield next door.
The next day was a crystal clear summer day with a light wind and fluffy cumulous clouds meandering across the azure sky, a perfect day for an air show. It was late morning as Trixie was flying her helicopter over the practice oval, spotting for Speed as he made his laps around the track. It was Saturday and he was practicing on order of Pops, who was relentlessly driving his second born son to better his already stellar lap times. Pops' anxiety for the upcoming race was the reason for the extra practice session for he was worried about Speed's times without someone to draft him. But there was something else on Pops mind that had to do with the race, a plan cooking up in his brilliant technological mind to give the Go team that special edge.
She sighed as she recalled the phone conversation early this morning with Speed as he broke the news to her about the extra practice session. He had expressed regret about the extra practice but promised her they would knock off early to make the air show so she reluctantly agreed to assist him provided they leave for Saginaw at noon sharp.
Trixie consulted her watch and noticed that it was quarter to noon so she picked up the radio to call Speed.
"Trixie to the Mach 5. Trixie to the Mach 5."
"This is the Mach 5. What's up, Trix?"
"Speed, it's almost noontime. We've got to get going for the air show."
"Okay. Just let me finish this lap and we'll split. See ya when you land."
"Okay. Over and out."
She prepared to land and she went to hover over the infield grass and began descending. As Trixie landed and cut the motor she glanced at the grandstand bleachers and groaned as she noticed a blue Mustang parked and the giggly throng of adolescent females that had been hanging around the track of late led by the ever persistent Sally sitting there cheering her boyfriend on. They had been a ubiquitous presence at the track after Speed's last race and try as she would, Trixie just could not accept the girls hanging about, especially the redheaded Sally who made it clear that she wanted the coal haired rookie racing sensation for herself while he tolerated and sometimes even basked in the attention. But then again it had been that way since Speed began the Formula 1 season and he got the reputation of rescuing comely damsels in distress like circus star Twinkle Banks, Princess Peddle, Lady Sibana of Kapetapek, and the lady archeologist Calcia Bone just to name a few. It was beginning to get on her nerves but she pasted a smile on her lovely visage as she exited the chopper to go and meet the Mach 5.
The low slung white racecar rumbled over to where Sparky and Pops were standing monitoring its progress. Speed killed the motor and then leapt over the side eliciting a squeal from his adoring fans who were heading over.
Pops cleared his throat gruffly as he said, "The times were okay but could be better, Speed. So I want you to go back and try again."
"But Pops," Speed protested. "Trixie and I were leaving to go to the air show in Saginaw. I promised I would take her."
"Speed, the race is in two weeks. We need to be on top of our game so we can win and we have to win all the races we can in order to win the championship," Pops insisted, arms folded obstinately. "You have to keep practicing, Trixie will understand."
Trixie came over to the men as the last sentence was uttered. "What will I understand?" she asked Speed but before he could answer the groupies came over in a flood and again she was shoved aside and nearly knocked down by a pushy redhead as Sally grabbed Speed in a bear hug.
"Ohhh Speedy, you were so marvy out there today!" she simpered as Trixie righted herself fuming and rolling her eyes.
"G-gee thanks Sally, but I gotta," Speed began but the girl cut him off.
"Would you take me for a ride, Speedy? Please?" Sally pleaded as she pulled Speed to the driver's side.
By the passenger side Trixie called, "Speed," but again she was shoved aside as Sally opened the door and sat triumphantly in the Mach 5. The petite helicopter pilot shot daggers at the groupie then at her beau as he acquiesced to the request.
"Trix, I promise I'll be right back, I'm just gonna take Sally around the track once. Then we'll go, I promise." Speed started the engine and took off down the track while the other groupies all shrieked with joy.
"Since you're going out there you might as well do your laps, Speed!" Pops bellowed after him. "Sparky, start timing him."
"Right away." Sparky pushed the button on the stopwatch.
Pops walked over to Trixie and said, "The race is really important, Trixie. Speed can go with you some other time."
Trixie pinned Pops with her eyes and in spite of himself Pops cringed. "But he has enough time to take that girl for a ride!"
"He took her around the track," Sparky pointed out. "While doing some laps."
"So that makes it okay, huh?" she railed.
Neither Sparky or Pops had anything to say so she glared at both of them. Trixie was furious as she cried, "Ohhhh, he's just incredible! Well, I'm not waiting for him, I'm leaving." She whirled and pushed past the groupies and Sparky, who called after her.
"Hey Trixie, what'll I tell Speed when he comes back and you're not here?"
She did not turn around but said over her shoulder. "I really don't care what you tell him!" She headed for her yellow Mercedes convertible, climbed in, slammed the door and gunned away.
After two laps, Speed had had enough of Sally's gushing hero worship and blatant come ons so he pulled over to the grandstand and let the girl out. She sauntered over to the driver's side and leaned in to thank him.
"Thanks for the ride, Speedy," Sally said coyly fingering his red kerchief.
Speed took her hand off his person and said politely, "Sure. Now if you'll pardon me." He took his helmet off, glanced around and demanded of Sparky, "Hey Sparky, where's Trixie?"
Sparky looked uncomfortable as he replied, "She, ahh split, Speed."
Speed's eyes widened in dismay. "What? I told her I'd be right back, why'd she cut out on me?"
Sparky shrugged as Pops came forward and said crisply, "Well since you're finished with your public relations and Trixie left alone maybe you can get back to practicing."
Speed glared at his father and opened his mouth to retort but saw no point so he jammed his helmet back on and revved the Mach 5 as he roared off down the track.
NEXT-AERIAL ATTRACTION