The Switch - Chapter Excerpt

 

Last Run Of The Day

“Watch out, Comet!” Kaden Johnston pulled the wheel hard left. Dust from the dry August days filled the air as the go kart slid from the hard shift. Comet, Kaden’s Border Collie, distanced himself from the speeding kart, but happily kept running along the trail and maintained the pace of the kart perfectly.

Kaden and his cousin, Ben Johnston, were driving together in the off-road tandem go kart. This kart had been modified by Kaden’s dad with an additional steering wheel and accelerator, one for each of the two seats. It was the family kart and Kaden’s dad wanted to be able to take control if a young driver needed assistance.

It was past dusk. The night sky was clear and the light of the nearly full moon was beginning to shine on the well-worn trail in the old and neglected apple orchard in Kaden’s backyard. Ben’s family had a standing dinner appointment every Saturday night at Kaden’s house. As close cousins, these boys had grown up racing go karts and driving this orchard track for years.

The two teen boys wanted to get one last run in before Ben left with his family. They were just reaching the far end of the apple orchard where the turns are tight, especially in the bulky, off-road tandem kart.

“Let me take the wheel!” Ben yelled. “You know I’m better at tight turns!”

“No!” Kaden yelled back. It was his go kart, his track, and his passion.

“You’re too far right!” Ben pointed out.

“No, I’m not.”

“Switch me! Now!”

“Okay. Okay. Go!” Kaden reluctantly lightened up on the accelerator so that Ben could control the kart from his side. They approached the final turn and were both leaning their bodies to the left. The dirt trail was rough through this turn and they hit a bump, throwing the kart into the air a few inches. It was enough to dislodge Kaden’s foot off the accelerator and Ben’s foot pressed down too hard on his pedal. The go kart went into a spin and came to a sudden stop.

“That never works,” Kaden said when things came into focus. “Why do you keep trying?” He sighed, raised one eyebrow, and gave Ben a What-are-you-thinking? look with his brown eyes.

“It will work! I know it! We just need to practice our footwork.”

“Why? Racers go solo, not double. It will never help us win anything.” Kaden raised his hands to his head and clenched them over his eyes, trying to to understand Ben’s point of view.

“Alright, maybe,” Ben said. “But tricks are what make racing so much more fun! Anyone can race in a circle on solid asphalt.” His voice became playful, matching his words. “But how many kids do you know who can take on a tight turn, do full spins, and fly pop wheelies in a go kart?”

“‘Pop wheelies?’ Really?” Kaden laughed. “We’re seventeen, not ten. You can’t win a state championship doing ‘pop wheelies.’”

“Hey! I got you to laugh! Besides, no harm done.” Ben ran his right hand through the wavy, brown curls in his hair, pulling his bangs away from his forehead. His blue eyes were smiling confidently.

They relaxed for a minute, watching the night roll in. Kaden turned off the key, sat back, and started drifting into his own thoughts. Now that he had won his county’s race, he qualified to race at the state competition. Ben had won the race in his county, too, but he wasn’t really competition, Kaden thought. Ben was really good at racing, except it wasn’t as important to him as flying. Ben wanted to fly helicopters professionally. He enjoyed racing for the fun and thrill and not for the win, and he was always goofing off and pulling pranks. In the go kart, he excelled in tricks and cornering. He could maneuver a go kart through any tight situation. Still, Ben’s heart wasn’t in it for the win.

Kaden thought about his plans. Winning state is everything. What am I thinking? I always win. Always. Kaden thought about his past races. I win every tournament because I excel at speed. His mind started racing. He had to win if he wanted to go on to professional racing. Soon he would be able to get his own race car. A real car, not just the go kart his parents made him use. He would practice racing everyday until he became the next Daytona winner. And Indy winner. And then NASCAR winner.

“If you win,” Ben interrupted the silence. “What are you going to do with the scholarship money?”

“I don't know. I don't care about college. All I want to do is race professionally.” Kaden paused. “What would you do?”

“I think I would take it. Most of our friends are going to college next year anyway. It can’t be all that bad.”

“Really? I thought all you cared about in the prize winnings is meeting Fly-by Monte.”

“Ah, Fly-by Monte,” Ben said placing the palms of his hands together in a prayer position and giving a slight bow. “Nothing’s more important than that.” He hesitated. “But after that, after high school, well, competition racing will be over for me. I want to fly.”

Stars were appearing in the night sky. The half moon was shining through the apple tree branches casting shadows onto the bars of the go kart. Comet jumped up and licked Kaden’s face then ran toward the house.

“You know I’m going to win, right?” Kaden said.

“Only ‘cause your kart is sturdier than mine. I could take you on the corners any day if I had a racing kart like yours.” Ben paused. “Do me a favor. When you win, sneak me in to see Fly-by, will you?”

“You know I will.”