POV Narrator:
In Luna Nova things seemed to be pretty normal, the classes were back and the students were already used to the days, but in this time Bernadette started to promote the formation of her private team to work in the BBRT, that in the case she even got it very quickly, April became the strategist and the pit stop mechanics were Beatrice, Molly, Rosemary, Eleanora, Aika, Velma, Scarlet, Francine, Phoebe and Raven, all of whom came together to work for Cavendish's team, but still had to train to prepare for the race, this team preparation had already taken a good few days leading up to the registration date which would be on February 19th which was the registration deadline and the pre-race which would take place on February 27th before the definitive start of the season on the British Broom Racing Tour.
Time was not really on the girls' side, especially since Bernadette spent a lot of time training her broomstick skills alone without thinking much about the team, until Laura started asking her girlfriend a little bit about the team's training and she had no idea, She even confided in them to train with each other, which made McLaren very doubtful about everything to the point that she decided to call them all for a definitive training session, especially since she was very much a mechanic, with all the necessary equipment that a team of racers uses.
Sunday, January 17, 1988
The day was dawning in Luna Nova, the girls of the team that Bernadette formed in the BBRT were all in the blue team's room sleeping after a small party that they made celebrating the formation of the team and the chance to earn some extra money, and Laura and Bernadette even took a little time to make love in their private room, as well as other girls that were in couple or just wanting to do something hotter. That morning the McLaren Cavendish couple was waking up after a night like every night they used to do, the two were getting up still quite sleepy, do their personal hygiene and soon after they changed and were ready, this time with the training clothes by the Scottish girl and McLaren who just put on her uniform and started talking from there with her girlfriend.
POV Bernadette:
I guess today is my team's training day after all the partying we did in this room? Wow, yesterday was kind of fun after the go-kart, but now I hope they will be with me in this training, although I don't have that much sense of leadership... I guess, but I have to, otherwise nobody will obey my orders when I'm racing, imagine what a disaster it will be if they haven't trained at all... I really forgot about this part, I was so focused on myself that I forgot that I'm not alone in this.
- Bern we have to talk about your team, they need to get a bit of a grip, imagine these lazy girls trying to change a broomstick wing and out of nowhere because of one that has not trained well your race can go to space, that's why I'm here to stop it, so much so that I as a mechanic will teach them all how to do the basics, since a change of wings takes no more than 4 seconds and look there, it has to be very fast so as not to ruin the race - she said what I understood clearly.
- I know, honey, but how are they going to want to join this training? They've been called attention for the money, but I doubt they'll want to train because it's a "bore" if you know what I mean, honey... - I say until Laura puts her hands on my shoulder and then gives me a shake.
- Don't let yourself be defeated so easily, my love! Don't put your head down just because you're not getting an accomplishment! Look, I'm going to help you out with this one for a son of a bitch! Come with me and I'll make these girls get the hang of it and train! - said my Laura all serious.
Laura soon takes me to the other part of the room, where she starts making noise waking up all of them, hitting a piece of metal she found, getting a whistle and even shouting "Wake up" to all the girls that started to all wake up in a jump, they were many of them sleepy and one by one they were waking up and looking at us angrily, until they were all together to have a clearer conversation between all of them and Laura about the race team.
- All right you soft asses, don't you think that working with Bern is all about ease! It's not! It's not just by depending on her that you're going to guarantee that fucked up consecration, so I want you all to start training now! I'm going to teach you how to do the basics of a broomstick race and you're going to have to learn if you don't want Bernadette to fire you, Capiche? - said Laura all serious and imposing until Beatrice raised her hand.
- And why are you speaking for Bernadette? You are our rival, why do you want to help us? It doesn't make an ounce of sense, that's just - Beatrice said until Laura throws a BB gun at her and then carries a broom in front of her, which makes me laugh a little at Laura's sense of humor who even puts her hand on her waist and starts with the debauchery and irony.
- So change the wing of this broom, then we'll talk about it, you have one month to train this and you're starting now, if you want to win more than you expect to win, I'm helping you because Bernadette is my girlfriend and I want to see her win, I support her, fuck if she runs against me, I have a whole team supporting me, she is alone depending on you! Do you know what this is? You are the most important piece for Bernadette to win against me! I understand a lot about how to change a broom handle, I know every part of it, so change and I'll start training you - she said until the girls all sleepy just go to change and after all that my Laura looks at me with a smile and even gives me a little wink saying a "See that", which only makes me give a silly smile.
- Wow baby, you really impose the authority in this place, I would even manage, but how am I going to train this bunch of clumsy people when I don't know either - I say until she gives me the pressure gun.
- And the racer will also train together, don't think that just because you are a runner that your job is to walk in circles around a circuit, a professional broom runner knows how her broom works - She said which I only gave a more yellowish smile... Fuck even me? I didn't think it would be that complicated, besides running I also have to get my hands dirty.
Laura and I stayed waiting the girls to come back, in this waiting Laura started to teach me how to use the pressure gun with care for not tearing my hand out with the rotation of it, approaching well in the fitting and taking off the wing that was easy, later to put was only to position and to screw changing only the direction of the rotation of the pressure gun, what I found easy, I won't go so difficult like that, I even got to change the four wings this way. Until the girls finish changing and go to the room where we were practicing and from there Laura starts her course.
- All right, we're all here. We are all here, I am going to teach you one by one how to take and place a wing, now line up, I repeat, all of you without exception, even the runner and the strategist, you are going to take and hold the wing that is in my hand and exchange it, you will have to do this as fast as possible, so pay attention to how to take it off, first you position the pressure gun on the hub of the wing, leaving the option to unscrew, lean over and just press, then take the wing, get the other one and put the gun in the screw position, ready, simple as that, understand? - Said Laura showing how to change a broom's wing to the girls that were watching well how it was done, they all agree with their heads and soon we start lining up to start changing the wings.
Everything started very slowly, since the girls still didn't have the least idea of how a wing change was made, as well as I imagined from these people, they tried by all means to take off and put on that wing, taking a long time, some of them screwed a lot, but I don't blame them, Laura that only showed it once, but until she was teaching more clearly as the girls went by and soon the line was going faster, even in my turn I was going very fast, since I practiced before they arrived, I took off the four wings, the time was going faster and faster as we went by, it was incredible, Beatrice was the worst of the group and it took her 7 seconds to change the broom's wing, it was amazing, and it was fun to see who did well because there was a blackboard that Laura made with our times that she used to time and I was amazed at how fast she could write down the times, at the same time she timed us and gave us the wing, we continued like that for a long time, it had already passed almost half an hour, until Laura signaled us to stop, look I think that some of us will end up injured from repeating so much the same movement.
- Finally! This thing tires me, ah, but it was a little easy training, why do we have to train this? I was the slowest and I did it in 6 seconds - said Beatrice until Laura gave a sniffle.
- It happens that you only changed one of the wings, with my help on top of that, this is much more than just putting the wing, it involves a lot of synchrony, a lot of connection among you, to change all the wings of the broom the team needs to behave as one, imagine that there are eight of you, one of you will hold, take the wing that was taken off, put the new one on, and the other will screw, each one in a wing and all of you have to do it at the same time so that Bern doesn't lose time in the race and now this is what we are going to train, we are only going to give a rest of 10 minutes - Said Laura what the girls are even a little tired, they were already just changing a single wing imagine doing a work in synchrony.
- Damn, is it really worth all that work for a few pounds? I keep asking myself... Because we're not going to be a fucking top team, so it's going to be even harder to get... - said Beatrice until Laura interrupted her.
- You won't make it if you find it, and if you want to jump off the boat jump off, we'll get a replacement for you, Bern just wants a team working for her, someone helping her with the broom, it's not that hard, she'll be able to win races and podiums with the help of a team working on her side, damn it! I'm here helping them, so make a point to cooperate, well I already know that Beatrice won't be in the wings part, it's easier for her to be the plate person, so, Rose, Eleanora, Aika, Velma, Scarlet, Francine, Phoebe and Raven, you'll be the ones in the front line for the exchanges - Said Laura pointing to them.
The rest time was soon over and then Laura called the girls to practice the synchrony of changing the wings of the broom, it was practically a scheme in which one took care of holding the wings while the other used the pressure gun to take and put them having to be done in the greatest possible synchrony. They did well, managing to reduce even more the time that all four were changing, although they still lacked a little synchrony among the eight, since the pair of Eleanora and Rose was in a rhythm a little faster than the other pairs that still tried to keep up, but the time went by in attempt by attempt, they were lowering more and more the time it took to change the wings, it was even impressive, it was even less than 4 seconds, there was even a time that they changed in 3.3 seconds... Yes, they were synchronizing more among themselves, doing it in a very fast way, our until that the training was giving well, until after half hour again Laura stops with the training of the girls.
- Great, the time went down a lot, you don't waste much time with the stop, which is wonderful, you are at the BBRT standard, but you can still improve a lot, but for now your training with this is over, because now I will explain in detail how a broom works, after all a mechanic doesn't just change the grip handles, a broom has much more than that and you need to learn more - Said Laura, who soon erased what was written on the board.
POV Narrator:
From there it was a rather long class that Laura started explaining detail by detail about a broom from the British Broom Racing Tour, which the girls were writing down pretty much as if they were in a normal class, the most impressive thing was that the classes given by McLaren didn't seem so boring. He explained in front of the girls how to disassemble a racing broom completely right in front of them and even asked each of them to do the same, helping them to assemble it all back together, as well as writing down every detail that was put on the broom, but the whole thing took a good couple of hours to finish, Even more because the girls were trying everything to leave the broom well assembled and understand how each piece fit, even Bernadette who was the runner had to understand, this part was where April stood out, she was the only one in the whole group who really studied the operation of a broom and she knew how to disassemble and also move the magic orb leaving it in the configuration that is best for the circuit.
In addition, Laura taught the girls the basics of racing, how the flags work, and even invited them to race on a go-kart track on Friday of that week to better understand how it works in practice, which soon made them all even more interested in McLaren's classes.
The broom worked practically like a motorcycle with 6 speeds, and each one learned the basic principles of riding, how the magic orb worked, how the stop protocols were, how to make the perfect stop, race strategies, all this in less than 4 hours of class, with the day in the middle of the afternoon, where they rested eating some pizzas.
POV Laura:
This is because it is still only the basics, these girls will still have a lot to learn if they want to at least guarantee 10 thousand pounds per race, although they are much better prepared than any other racer or team, most of the time I never see them stop in the pits thinking that the wings can handle a whole race, but it is always good to have a quick pit stop strategy, these girls are really doing well, I thought it would be more difficult, but if they continue at this pace I can really fuck myself with the strategies, if they are smarter than me... Although I have 12 in my team, they are 12 that are there waiting for me when I change the wings of the broom, well at least I will have the chance to have a very fucked up dispute.
- And then Laura, I still don't understand why you are helping us so much, when it could end up going against yourself in the races and even affect your career - said the annoying Beatrice.
- Simple, because I don't do well with my own team and also because I already said, I want to see Bernadette independent, I want her to be able to fulfill herself and if she wants so much to secure herself as a runner and have her own independence, then why not? I will have fun having a worthy opponent, since the others are so amateurish that I honestly don't know how they are doing out there.
- Oh I see, you want to show yourself as superior, so you want to show everyone how superior you are with a broom for helping Bern... I knew that deep down you still have the intention of wanting only your own selfish benefit - said the redhead answering me. Damn... You got that one out of your ass.
- Fuck you, why the fuck would I do that? Look at the whole fucking plan you told me about, why would I go to all that trouble? And another thing, I am with the intention of giving Bern a living, I've said more than once that I just want to help her, look how much I'm doing for you, if I was really going to do it to show myself I would simply try to look at some other high level runner and make the bridge for her to enter the BBRT against me, but no, I'm not going to do that - I say to Beatrice who continues to doubt, but I fuck off until I get a little kiss from Bern on the cheek that relieves some of my anger.
After a little while chatting with the girls and eating some pizza, we played for a while until the food went down, I was already planning another phase of the training that we would do later, this time it would be outside, with Bern flying and all the training for her to perform regarding the wing changes. Time passed and soon I called the girls.
- Hey girls, let's go! There's still one more training session today, but I promise it will be the last one, I want to see how you do in a race, okay?
Then we fly outside Luna Nova, into the courtyard which was with the sun starting to set with that wonderful pink of the sun with the clouds... I even grabbed the camera and took a picture of Bern flying without her noticing, just as she was looking up into the sky with her beautiful pair of olive eyes... Oh how I am all enchanted with such beauty of this Scottish goddess... Oh I say... I kept flying until we landed.
- All right, the whole pit crew is at this point, do as they do in a race, Bern will be circling the track, it is a race simulation, April will tell you when it is time to stop and you will already be in your positions with your wings ready, Beatrice holds the sign and leaves it in time to let Bern know when to leave and when to stay, now go! - I tell them that they just nod their heads and get in position.
Soon they start to simulate as if it was a race, with Bern flying around that small circuit giving some laps and as always the warnings working very well, Molly stayed with the boards that warned the time of the laps and also which lap Bern was in and if it was for her to stop in the next one, the correct way that should be used, April stayed with a radio in hands and took care of warning the moment to stop. Everything worked perfectly, they were even managing to make the stops, even though it took a while, but I give a discount, they learned today, it's already a huge progress, they took about 6 or 7 seconds in each stop that changed the wings of the broom and Bern entered the pits with everything, even if she wasn't flying with everything she kept a good speed to preserve the wings during the training.
This time I let them stay a little longer, until an hour passed and I decided to make them stop, since they were pulling a lot, I imagine they are even tired, luckily in a real race there are not that many stops, usually there is only one, when there is one, but in case there is, it is always good for the team to be working in the best way.
- All right girls! You can stop for today! Practice is over! - I say, already announcing for them to stop and Bern does the final lap very straight, calmly entering the pits and turning off the broom, which I quickly go to take a look at.
- I'm really afraid that this broom won't hold up because of how much they're pulling, but I think it will, and then I'll give it a good overhaul, for now they can take it and train it the best way I can, and I'll take the opportunity to make sure it's in order, since it's always good to see if everything is okay.
- Not bad for a first day, but you better improve more, the stop time is still a bit long for a race, depending on the track Bern can lose up to 30 seconds in the pits and this can cost many races and positions, but you are doing very well, keep training and soon perfection will catch up with you, who knows so you can divide 100 thousand pounds between you one day or the most likely 80 thousand which is still a lot - I tell them that they even celebrate.
- We fucking did it! Just wait until this season starts Laura McLaren, we're all going to beat you up and you'll regret ever having trained us - said Beatrice to which I just shrugged, "Let them beat me up anyway, it's going to be really fucked up.
- Good luck - I say, signaling to them.
- So people, let's eat the last pizzas, enjoy and have a little party after this training we did, we can't beat Laura on an empty stomach - they say all confidently, damn now I've created some little monsters wanting to beat me, I think this season I have to run for real because these brooms are more the runner's ability to control than magic, even more so because even with my ability it is different, it is more the broom that controls the trajectory and we have to control it.
After this little training we take the opportunity and go to the blue team's room, where we finished with the pizzas on a Sunday day, all celebrating a lot, I think I did a good job today we were playing for a lot of time and talking about broom races, they also wanted to know a little more and I told them how it was over there, the races that would be in the season, all the layouts so they could study better, since they don't have the advantage of the team to develop the broom for each different circuit, especially since the strategies change, and there are costs with wings and everything else... Damn... Poor things... They will really have to bear many costs if Bern can not show results, I even feel bad about this, but I have total conviction that the cabbage can, it will show service.
The relaxed moment passed and the girls went to her rooms, including us who also came back, but just as I was about to leave with Rose and April... Cabbage takes my hand and leads me to her room... Holy shit there is one today and I didn't even know it... wow... I think I will spend the night here.
- Baby... Thank you so much - she said hugging me.
- But for what, my love? - I say still all confused by that cuddly hug.
- For everything Laura McLaren, for your help, for your presence, everything, you're giving your time and effort to help me in this endeavor of being a runner, I honestly can't thank you enough... I wouldn't know how to come to a consensus with all of this... Look at your help Laura... I wouldn't understand that a race is more than just running, I knew I had a team, but I didn't imagine it would be all this synchrony - said the cabbage to me.
- In reality it's not like that, not even in the World Broom Racing Championship the teams are as organized as you are, my team for example is a disaster in the pits, they have 3 witches in each wing and even so they take 6 seconds to change everything, when I go to see, I'm in third position fighting to regain the lead - I say to Bern who gets even more excited.
- So you mean our chances are better? - she answers, all excited.
- More than they think, if they continue at this pace they will show that the professionalism of the whole team is important, that it is not just the runner, nobody runs alone, the team is the most important piece for a champion runner - I say to Bern who hugs me again.
- Laura... I love you so much, you always... Always... Ahhh... You think a lot about us, let go of what Beatrice says about you about being selfish, because it's not true, you are doing more for us than for yourself, in all this time you could be training and training, just to win and leave me alone in this, but no - said the cabbage, which I really want to help.
- I do this because I love you Bernadette Cavendish so much! I want so much to see you happy. I want you to be the happiest woman in the world, I must have said that before, but I will always make all the point in the world of repeating it just to see my cute little cabbage happy and joyful again, my future race winner who has just won the most important race for me... You won the race of my heart - I say to her, who strokes me with all her affection. We stayed hugging and exchanging caresses.
She gave me a great kiss after that, and I just went for it, that delicious kiss with our tongues touching, tasting Bern's lips... Hmmmm... We lay on the bed without overdoing it, she stroking my hair and I stroking my sweetheart's cabbage patch, I loved this moment, until the kiss broke and she touched my nose with the tip of her finger, which made me goofy.
- That was a goodnight kiss my love, go to your room before it's too late - she said smiling at me. It's not tonight, but no problem, I will dream a lot about her, I love this girl very much.
- I love you Bernadette Cavendish - I say getting up while holding her hand and then I let go of that hand as she looks at me leaving, lying on her back swinging her legs up all cute and as soon as I leave she waves at me... I love this girl so much.
After leaving Bern's room I go back to my room just thinking about her... How cute... I am really enjoying every moment with Bernadette... I never thought it would be this wonderful to date, seriously, she is an amazing person, she is a mature and intelligent person, she more than deserves all of this, she deserves even more, all the love in the world if I could give it to her... Fuck... I am getting gayer every day with this girl, I never thought that I would be so much for someone, especially me Laura McLaren... Well, I go to my room, put on my pajamas and go to sleep thinking about my baby, of course, playing with Bernadette at night.
POV Bernadette:
Laura McLaren, every day this girl wins me over more than I thought I couldn't do anymore, but she gets there and shows me, no, I will win over more, how cute, I love this girl so much, she and her debauched way full of irony that although in the beginning it seemed boring, she really improved a lot, a lot is even a nickname, she really gave a substantial improvement in the person she is... I wonder what time will give me... I think I'd better give it a rest, but thinking about my little freckle, I even decide to close the door, take off my clothes and play with my orange Laurinha, hehe... This one even has some spots that remind me of her freckles... Good night Laurinha, stimulate my Cavendish now.
POV Narrator:
A day that was very much marked by the team that Bernadette has formed for the British Broom Racing Tour finally getting their hands dirty and training for the upcoming races, they were training at a level that has never been trained before, with Laura thinking of the team as a whole, quite different from all the approaches taken by other teams that usually only thought of the star runner, forgetting that there is a whole team behind it.
See you, training witches...
