Ashlyn tried to take all that in. Her family name actually wasn't Pittman, but Pitstop and the famous Penelope was her aunt. She couldn't wait to use this for her homework.
"Can I call Aunt Penelope and ask for more information?" Ashlyn asked.
Austin smiled at his elder daughter. "Why don't I call her and you can visit her? You do have a school break to give you enough time to do any research you can and your aunt doesn't live too far away from here."
"Really, Dad?" Ashlyn sounded excited.
"I insist, I'll give her a call, we keep in touch."
"Thanks, Dad, that'd be radical!"
Austin chuckled, ruffling up his daughter's hair which matched his own and went to call Penelope. This was an exciting moment for Ashlyn. Now she knew being a racecar driver was in her blood and she wad destined to become one herself. She always felt it in her soul. She wasn't sure what was more exciting, getting her homework done like this or going to meet a relative she never knew she was related to, but always admired.
After Ashley and Ashton went to bed, Ashlyn was making up her own bed to get some sleep. Her father had been on the phone a long time with Penelope. Maybe this was just as a big news break to Penelope as it was to Ashlyn. As the punk girl got into her bed for the night, Austin came in.
"You still awake?" Austin sat on the end of her bed.
"Yeah," Ashlyn told him, not turning the light out yet because he just came in. "What took you so long? You were on the phone longer than Mom booking a spa reservation with her book club."
Austin chuckled. "Sorry, your aunt was surprised to hear from me after so many years. She hadn't heard from me since your sister Ashley was born."
"So, can I visit Aunt Penelope?"
"Of course, honey," Austin ruffled her hair again. "You're going on a train and leaving at 11:30. Be sure to get up early so you can pack."'
"Aw, cool!"
"Better get your rest now, good night, Ashlyn."
"Night, Dad."
Click! Went the light. Ashlyn settled herself in and started to dream about meeting her aunt/idol. She started dreaming she was in the Wacky Races contest. She could see herself inheriting the Compact Pussycat and she would give it a punk redesign. More black and blue to fit Ashlyn's taste and fancy.
The teen saw herself driving it to compete in endless races. Beating that fiendish Dick Dastardly and his sidekick Muttley. She often envisioned herself knocking them and that Mean Machine into the mud to get a dangerous flat tire or to pop out with an airbag that comically backfired on them stopping to cheat like they always would. Ashlyn then nearly rocked the world of The Slag Brothers and their difficult Boulder Mobile. Racing, so easy, not even a caveman could do it. Rock and Gravel would feel her wrath.
It was almost winning time. Ashlyn steered and drove as quick as she could with The Creepy Coupe right behind her. She clicked a button which unleashed banana peels and it made the Gruesome Twosome slip and fall off a cliff into a river. Ashlyn giggled as she was close to winning. It was almost going to look like Professor Pending was going to win. Ashlyn wouldn't let it, she gripped the steering wheel of the Pussycat and let the rocket engine boost her forward.
Not even the Army Surplus Special was going to have any special treatment today. Ashlyn rear-ended him and wound up beating the other racers. She zipped down the finish line and lifted her arms in victory. Just like in her school fantasy, everyone cheered for the niece of Penelope Pitstop.
"Ashlyn! Ashlyn! Ashlyn!"
The punk teen took in all the fame. She felt so glorious and wasn't going to be a dreamer for very much longer. Except for this one moment.
"Ashlyn, wake up," Amber shook her daughter awake. "You have to get up and get packing, honey, you're leaving in a couple of hours." she greeted with a warm, friendly smile.
Ashlyn woke up and rubbed her eyes. She stretched a bit in bed and decided to get packing. She packed all her special things including a notebook and pencil as suggested by her parents. Ashlyn thought about how amazing her homework assignment was going to be once she would be back in school and telling her schoolmates all about her famous relative. She was actually looking forward to going to school once her break would be up.
After breakfast, Austin and Amber took their daughter to the train station. Ashton stayed behind to look after Ashley, who would only keep herself busy by tying up the phone and calling all her friends to get the juicy gossip on some of her peers in school.
"This is it, you excited?" Austin asked his daughter, happily.
"Very!" Ashlyn chirped.
"I hope you have a good time, honey, now remember your please and thank you's for your Aunt Penelope." Amber hugged Ashlyn by her neck.
Ashlyn sighed, but smiled. "Yes, Mom..."
The train whistle fumed as it rode up and let off a few passengers. Ashlyn grabbed her bags and said her final good-bye's to her parents. She then dashed as soon as it was empty and some new people were getting on the train.
"All aboard!" the conductor called.
Austin and Amber waved as the train was going off on the train tracks. Ashlyn waved back and sat back, very excited to meet her aunt. She couldn't wait to tell everybody this when she would be back in school. It was just too exciting. She wondered what adventures would await her in the land of Wacky Races.