The Big Race Home by Sherri Duskey Rinker

Author:Sherri Duskey Rinker [Rinker, Sherri Duskey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781547603688
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2021-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

22

For a long time, Revver stood at the window. He didn’t move or blink. He wasn’t sure he even took a breath.

He watched the plane get in line behind another plane, and wait for its turn to take off. He stared helplessly as the plane gathered speed and raised its nose and took off into the sky. If he were in a different mood, he would find this incredible and exciting. Now, it made him feel like he was seeing all his happiness fly away.

He kept watching the plane—the plane that carried Bill and the crew to Charlotte. He watched until he could no longer see it, until it disappeared high into the sky.

Then he just kept standing there, pressed against the glass. Time passed. The skies darkened; Revver was not sure if it was because it was nighttime or if another rainstorm might be coming. It didn’t matter. He didn’t care.

After a long, long time, he peeled himself away from the window. He dropped his head and began to walk. He didn’t know where.

He walked past all the places he had explored earlier—all the places he had found so interesting and exciting. Now he did not even bother to look up.

His mind flashed bits and pieces of memories—of his time with the team, with Bill. He remembered his first ride in a race car and the feeling of pure speed—and pure joy. He remembered wiring cars and fetching tools and holding things when he was asked. He loved helping. He remembered Susan patiently teaching him wiring. He remembered watching Bill practice his tire changing while Revver fetched lug nuts for him. “Bill. Bill. Bill.” Revver mumbled Bill’s name.

He remembered all the hours riding in the truck with Joe, looking out the windows and munching peanuts and listening to the radio while they rolled along. He remembered the fluffy shop towels and how everyone rubbed him behind the ears.

He remembered all the sights and feelings and smells of the garage, the cars, and the track. He remembered how Ashley always smelled flowery and how Trevor sometimes had a strong smell that made Bill say, “Dude, you swimmin’ in aftershave again?” He knew the smells of rubber and fuel and exhaust. He remembered the life, where everyone loved cars and speed and racing as much as he did—where he felt loved and understood.

He remembered the horrible smell of the “joe” that Joe drank, and he even missed that.

But again and again, he thought of Bill. Thinking of Bill made a lump form in the bottom of Revver’s throat. Bill was his best friend, his favorite human in the whole world. Revver loved the whole crew, but mostly, he loved Bill.

Revver somehow found himself down by the tracks where he’d been playing earlier. He remembered feeling so giddy then. I was having so much fun. He sighed, sadly realizing that he was probably playing there when everyone got on the plane—without him.

Straight ahead, large glass doors were sliding open and closed. Revver could feel a blast of warm, humid air when they opened.

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