Training Wheels

by Anah Crow and Dianne Fox
17 pages / 8200 words
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub, Sony-optimized pdf

Denny and Sully from the Pit Road series are back, and Denny is having some problems with homework and his lack of a job and with his role in his life with Sully. Denny's not sure what to do, but Sully knows just what they need. Sully knows the key to easing Denny's worries, and is more than happy to make Denny forget everything but him, including physics, at least for a little while.

Pit Road Reading Order:
"Support System" in Toy Box: Slings
"Home Team" in Toy Box: Kitchen Sink
Percussive Maintenance
Heating Up
Oil Change
Out to Lunch
Southern Comfort
Training Wheels

Sample

The track's rental cars were really taking a beating. They always did, with kids spending their birthday money on track time in Porsches and guys hitting their midlife crisis in retired racecars, but this week'd been pretty bad, even taking that into account. Freddy Johnson hit the wall with three different cars, and Jimmy Macon threw a rod by redlining his engine and downshifting from fifth to second. Damn fool.

It was getting so they had more cars in the shop than on the track, so Sully wasn't real surprised when his boss came up to him, looking awful serious. "Somethin' I can help you with, Mr. McAuley?"

McAuley frowned a little, exasperation written all over his sun-aged face, and crossed his arms over his chest. After looking around the shop instead of at Sully for a minute, he sighed real heavy and shook his head. "I gotta get someone in here to start setting some folks right. You said you had a friend who knew a few things about driving, yeah?" Now, he looked over at Sully, hesitating like he was weighing his words. "You happen to know if he might be looking for some work?"

Sully'd mentioned that a good long time ago, before Denny'd had his last surgery. He was surprised Mr. McAuley even remembered, much less wanted to ask him about it. Still, it'd be good for Denny to get back on the track, even if he wouldn't be the one doing the driving. "Sure thing. Denny drove sprint cars up 'til a real bad crash took him out last summer. He's been gettin' back on his feet, might be interested. You want me to give him a call, see what he says?"

McAuley looked Sully over sharply, but then nodded. "Sure thing. Tell him to get out here. He can stay as long as he keeps people from testing my damn patience. Look at this place." He stumped off, grumbling under his breath until someone he could yell at caught his attention, then his voice rose up above the garage clatter.

Well, all right then. Damned if that wasn't the last thing Sully'd expected, walking into the garage this morning. Sully couldn't keep the grin from creeping over his face, but he just shook his head and got back to work.