Monkey Business -20- by Melanie Brown

Monkey Business Part 20

By

Melanie Brown
Copyright © 2024

My muscles were tensing, staring intently to watch for the starting gate to fall.  Nick revved his engine as he snicked his bike into first gear.

My arm was grabbed, and I was jerked off the sidecar. “Hey!” I shouted.

“What are you doing, boy?” growled my dad as he held my arm tight.

“Dad?” I asked, surprised. “What the hell? Dad, this is a race. Get off the track! You’ll disqualify Nick.”

A race official ran up to us. “Sir, you need to leave the track.”

“You’re coming home with me. I told this Nick asshole that you were forbidden to race!” Dad tightened his grip on my arm.

With a mighty tug, I jerked my arm free of Dad’s grasp. “I’m going to race! Nick can’t race without me.” I jumped back up onto the sidecar.

“Get off that bike!” shouted Dad.

Another race official joined the group. “Sir, we must insist you leave the track. I’m sure you want to avoid law enforcement.”

Dad scowled at me for a moment and then shrugged. “If you put it that way.” He started to turn away. “We’re not done with this, boy!”

One of the race officials looked puzzled. “Boy?”

Everyone tensed again now that the distraction of my Dad had been removed. The gate dropped, and Nick released the clutch, and I gripped the rail of the sidecar as if my life depended on it. And it kinda did.

As we went into the first turn, I threw all my body weight to my right and clung to the railing with a death grip, leaning out over the track, my head mere inches from the dirt. I was pelted by dirt and small rocks. I just hoped there wasn’t a big rock sticking up.

On the straight, I tucked down as tight as I could, the sidecar bouncing around, making it difficult to maintain my footing. Then I leaned way over to my left. I ripped another tear-off from my visor so I could see. We were fast approaching the leader.

I held on tight as I was lifted from the sidecar when we sailed over an embankment, only to splash down into the mud. The bike in front of us hit hard, tossing the passenger off into the mud, and we roared past. The next bike hit them and also spilled. We had a clear lead! My adrenaline was pumping as we skidded around the next turn. I had really missed this!

By the time we roared across the finish line, snagging first place just seconds ahead of the bike behind us, I was covered from head to toe with mud. Nick didn’t fare any better. I could hear the hiss of steam with mud dripping down on the hot engine. I plopped down onto the platform of the sidecar, exhausted. Only three more motos to go.

Dad was waiting for us as we rolled back into our pit area. He was sitting on our ice chest. I groaned when I saw him. I wanted to rest up before starting my first powder puff race of the day, not argue with Dad.

As we came to a stop, that’s when I noticed Mr. Adams talking to him.

“There she is!” called out Mr. Adams as I jumped off the sidecar. “Our pink racer!”

I looked down and noticed there wasn’t much pink showing in all the mud that covered me.

“Hey, Dad. Mr. Adams. I’m surprised to see you here.” I said as I pulled my skid lid off.

Grinning, Mr. Adams said, “I was just having a chat with your father. We were discussing his concerns. As a father myself, I would have concerns too.”

In all seriousness, Dad said, “I worry about my daughter getting hurt.” What did he just say?

I set my helmet on the saddle of my motocross bike. “No doubt it’s a dangerous sport. But so is football. I accept those risks, Dad.”

Nick stepped up to us and looked at Dad as he pointed at me. “Before you get upset at me, sir, Randy insisted he monkey for me. Colin somehow managed to injure himself last night. Without Randy, I would have had to forfeit.”

Dad squinted at Nick. “I heard you won.”

I said, “This moto. There’re three more.”

Mr. Adams put his hand on Dad’s shoulder. “You know Randi’s become an attraction all on her own at the track. We have fans who come just to watch her race and root for her. They call her the pink racer. Folks love seeing her pictures in the track store of her modeling. Nobody can believe that someone so dainty and beautiful is also such an aggressive competitor.”

Dad looked like he was choking down the words. “Randy loves to model.”

Mr. Adams started to put his arm around me, noticed the mud and thought better of it. “She’s a natural, that’s for sure.”

Nick said, “She’s a great little monkey.” Dad scowled at him.

I’m shocked. Everyone is referring to me as a girl.

Mr. Adams chuckled. “If Randi ever tires of racing, I’ll hire her in a heartbeat to be the permanent trophy girl.”

I laughed. “I don’t have the boobs for that.”

Mr. Adams laughed. “I’ll pay for a boob job.” He noticed Dad’s scowl and added. “With your permission, of course, sir.”

The mud, now mostly dried, was beginning to flake off. I said, “Guys, I need to get ready for my motocross.”

Mr. Adams smiled at me. “I’ll leave you to it. Good luck.” With a wave, he walked away.

Dad folded his arms and shook his head. “You sure have everyone fooled, that’s for sure.”

I cocked my head to one side. “Fooled about what, Dad? That I’m a good racer?”

He just scowled at me and started to turn away. “Good luck on your races.”

After Dad had gotten into his truck and driven away, Nick grunted. “I swear I know better, but maybe you are his daughter.”

I pushed my head into my brainbucket. “Why do you say that?”

He looked at me sideways and asked, “Has he ever held you to his demands?”

I chuckled. “Not really.”

Nick shook his head. “You have him wrapped around your little finger.”

I laughed. “Yeah, right.”

                    *

After we rode our bikes up to the starting gates, Becky shouted to me, “Hey girl! Ready to get your ass kicked?”

I shook my head at her. “Famous last words!”

Becky chuckled. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but you dodged a bullet last night.”

I wrinkled my brown. “How so?”

Her eyes bright and wearing a smirk, she said, “Colin was actually set to propose to you last night. But before he could, he fell off Jeremy’s truck and hurt his leg.”

My eyes wide, “Are you serious?” It’s not that I didn’t notice him falling off the truck, I just wasn’t aware of his nefarious plans.

Becky reached up to lower her face shield. “Mmhmm”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Tell Jeremy’s truck thank you.” Becky laughed. And then proceeded to kick my butt.

                    *

Nick and I were standing shoulder to shoulder, waiting for the track to announce the overall winners. We were sure we had it in the bag for our class as we’d managed to squeak out three wins out of four motos.

When the announcement was made, Nick let out a loud “Whoop!” and turned and kissed me. Right on the lips. He pulled back looking sheepish.

Becky laughed and gave me a thumbs-up.

End of Part 20