James wheeled himself into the pits. Today was the day. He had dreamed of this moment since the accident had left him paralyzed ten years before. Ten years a speed demon trapped in a chair. You’ll never drive again, the doctors said, but never was not a word James was familiar with. He would drive again and his first time out would not be any old street troll. No, he was going to conquer Nürburgring/The Green Hell.
He breathed in the heady mix of pine, exhaust and high octane fuel. The racetrack, nestled in a wooded area of Germany, had been his goal, top of his bucket list since he was a boy, watching legendary drivers like Stuck and Zakowski tackle the extreme course. When he became a junior test driver for BMW, he thought his life was made. 24 years old and on top of the world. Until that day, and the ultimate irony. It wasn’t a driving accident. No, skiing top speed into a tree did the damage; left him a quad in a chair.
Helmet on; his teammates lifted him into the Porsche Spyder that sat gleaming in the shaft of sun that broke briefly through the heavy clouds. He fastened his chest belt, sat back and revved the specially adapted hand paddles. The Porsche gave an appreciative growl. He was ready!
He was booked for one round but he was going for two. The first, to feel out the course. The second, to be the real deal. It was pouring again. Conditions were slick; concentration was prime. He eased the powerful car around the curves; steady as she goes; skills still at his fingertips. This was Nürburgring. He had arrived. One of his team gave him the chequered flag as he crossed the finish line. He waved as he passed the pits, heading for round two and glory.
250k: the Spyder achieved airborne at Bergwerk. James didn’t care. He’d conquered Nürburgring. He was free!
Clo Carey Feb/20
Blog challenge “Spider” one-word prompt
#SouthShoreScribesNS @www.emilybowers.ca/ https://wordsbywhittall.blogspot.com/ @passionate_perspective @https://www.facebook.com/groups/1470587219691626 #amwriting #writingprompt #shortstory #Nürburgring #PorscheSpyder
#write28days Feb12
Errors are my own.
Teetering on the Edge 