Racing Stripes

Bumblebee paused. He stared around at his surroundings. Someone was stalking him. He could feel its eyes upon him. Bumblebee took a few more steps before he stopped again. Sticks and branches snapped as the creature came towards him. Then with a ferocious howl the creature attacked. It tore across the Witwicky backyard and ran straight at Bumblebee.

Bumblebee stared down at the annoying creature. The little dog stared back.

"Go away," Bumblebee ordered. The dog didn't move. "Leave me alone." The dog barked angrily. "Not so loud!" A louder bark was the response. "Bad Mojo," Bumblebee scolded. Mojo responded with another bark. He then ran forward and bit Bumblebee's foot.

Bumblebee stared down in disgust. He doubted that he would ever like the little creature. Ironhide had been right about it. He raised his foot above the dog and prepared to squish it.

"Oh my God!" a voice screamed. Bumblebee froze. Judy was running across the yard, Sam right behind her. "My baby! My precious little baby!" She scooped Mojo up into her arms. "Did the mean robot scare you?" she whispered to the little dog. "You scared him," she added accusingly to Bumblebee. Mojo barked, almost like he was trying to confirm Judy's statement.

Bumblebee scowled. He glanced at Sam who was making wild motions with his hands. Understanding what the boy wanted Bumblebee lowered his foot. Judy retreated back to the house still clutching Mojo in her arms. The dog stared at Bumblebee over Judy's shoulder. He gave one final bark of disapproval before disappearing into the house.

"What were you doing 'Bee?" Sam asked. Bumblebee looked away guiltily. "Mojo is our pet. We love him."

"He bit me," Bumblebee muttered, trying to explain to Sam what had happened. "He's annoying. He always barks at me, bites me, stares at me…"

"He's just territorial. Plus I think he is insecure with himself. Mom dresses him up like a princess. That can't be good for any male."

"I suppose," Bumblebee said doubtfully.

"I'm sure Mojo will take to you eventually. Mom and dad did." Bumblebee nodded but he still doubted the dog would ever like him. "C'mon," Sam said, "I know what we can today."

"Guy time?" Bumblebee asked hopefully. Sam nodded, smiling.

Bumblebee transformed and Sam hopped in. Sam gave him directions to the place he wanted them to go. Bumblebee drove to the outskirts of town. He emerged onto a long road. Over a dozen cars were parked in the middle of the road. A bunch of human males and a few females stood around the cars. They all turned and watched Bumblebee and Sam pull up.

"What do you want kid?" a big man asked.

"I'm here to race," Sam said calmly.

"You have a sweet ride," someone said, "but I don't think a pretty boy like you can handle that car." Snickers followed this comment.

"Don't worry," Sam said, "my car won't fail me." He patted Bumblebee's dashboard fondly. Bumblebee rumbled his engine in response. Everyone gave Sam and Bumblebee an odd look.

"Fine," the big man said shrugging. "Your funeral." Sam and Bumblebee took their places. Several cars took down the road ahead of them. Bumblebee watched them.

"Sam, you know I can beat all of these cars in a race."

"Yeah, so?"

"So, is it fair?"

"Totally. We will be cool. Don't you want to be cool?" Bumblebee pondered the question. Being cool would have been Jazz's desire. But Jazz had now been dead for several weeks. "Let's do this 'Bee," Sam said softly.

"Kid, why the hell are ya talking to the car?" someone yelled. "Your dumb car can't respond." Bumblebee responded by pulling forward. He would show them a 'dumb car.' A slick silver car pulled up alongside them. The driver sneered out at Sam. A man waved his arms and Bumblebee exploded forward. Bumblebee went from zero miles per hour to over one hundred in a mere second. Sam screamed in surprise as he was thrown backwards. The spectators stood with their mouths hanging open in surprise. Bumblebee completed the race before the car that he was racing against had even started moving at a decent speed. So much for a 'dumb car' the Autobot thought.

"Bumblebee," Sam said hoarsely.

"Sorry Sam, I got a little excited."

"A little, is that all?" Sam replied.

"Well, I would say that we were very cool." Everyone else seemed to think so. Their mouths were still hanging open. They gazed at Sam with respect and with reverence at Bumblebee. The Autobot rumbled his engine as he approached the humans again. They all gasped but then nodded in appreciation. No more dumb car thoughts.

Bumblebee easily annihilated the rest of the competition. Everyone was gathered around Bumblebee, all wanting to admire the winning car.

"Awesome job kid," someone said.

"Your car had definitely has earned its racing stripes," someone else added. Sam nodded and patted Bumblebee's dashboard. Bumblebee rumbled his engine and the humans scattered. He raced down the street, heading back to the Witwicky home.

***

Bumblebee and Sam entered the Witwicky garage. After Sam had exited, Bumblebee transformed out of car mode.

"Way to go, we were definitely cool," Sam said. Bumblebee nodded his head enthusiastically. The door to the garage creaked opened. Sam and Bumblebee turned and saw two brown eyes staring at them. Mojo stuck his head into the garage and barked at Bumblebee. The Autobot had a surprise waiting for the dog. He had recorded Mojo's bark and played it back to the dog. Mojo froze, his eyes wide with shock, and then ran out of the garage as fast as his little legs could go.

"I think Mojo just earned his racing stripes," Bumblebee said chuckling. Sam looked shocked at first but then started chuckling as well.