Red Haired Rookie Chapter 3

The next day, Roy woke up feeling a bit more happy with himself. Today was Saturday, Ruby had no school that day, and when Roy came round to see how she was doing… she wasn't in her room.

“Now, where is that cheeky monkey?” thought Roy humorously. Presently he heard the tv from downstairs, so he went down to see what all the noise was about.

“And here they come! Through the follow through their bumper to bumper here at Donnington!” came the announcer from the tv. It was here Roy found out what the noise was.

On the tv was a British saloon car championship race, and watching the race was his daughter Ruby.

“It’s win Percy in the lead in the Toyota with Jeff Alam and Gordon Spice on his tail. The rover and the capri are fighting for position as we go into lap 10!” Ruby sat cross legged in front of the CRT TV cheering on her favourite drivers as they raced around the track at speeds up to 100 MPH.

“Good morning sweetie,” said Roy at last.

“Oh! Morning dad!” said Ruby cheerfully.

“Watching some racing I see?”

“Yeah, I got up really early to have my breakfast while watching my favourite sport on TV!” while her cutesy appearance may say otherwise, Ruby was a bit of a tomboy.

She admired cars just as much as her dad did, but poor Ruby doesn't have many friends due to her being judged for being a girl who liked something like cars. Roy admired her and helped build on her passion for being into cars just like him. But today will be hard. Seeing how he was supposed to give up street racing he needed to say something to her. So he gathered up his strength and bravery.

”Hey, uhm… Ruby?” Ruby turned towards him.

“Yes dad?” she asked.

"You know about my late night activities?" Roy hesitated.

“Yeah…” said Ruby curiously.

“I, uhm might have to… uhm…. well…”

“Let me guess. You think it’s time you stopped street racing?” Ruby asked, stopping her dad in his tracks. 

Roy was bewildered, how did Ruby know about this? Was it just luck?

“Yeah….how did you know?”  he asked.

“Well… Last night I was sleeping and then I heard something downstairs. You and mum were talking about something you did that night.” she answered.

Roy felt some guilt from last night that he didn't know he still had slip down his spine like fresh molasses.

“I didn't hear much but what I did hear was something about you quitting street racing.” Roy started understanding the situation.

“So you're not mad about me quitting street racing?” he asked.

“No dad. If anything, I'd say you’ve done the right thing. I love you too much to see you take your life away all for the sake of pushing your astra to its limit. But if street racing’s off the table, then what’s the point of giving you those racing lessons you’ve been wanting?” Ruby had a think. She wanted to be a professional racer but she knew she couldn't do it on the street.

Then it hit her. She looked over at the TV 

“And here comes Andy rouse on the inside of rad dougal! The ford capri is closing the gap on the SD1 but….ooooh dougal slams the door on him! The rover is not giving up that easily!” said the TV presenter.

“that's it!” ruby shouted excitedly!

“What’s it?” asked Roy in confusion. Then he too looked at the TV and soon everything became clear. 

“Yes... that could work... if you can't race on the streets, you could race on the track instead!” Ruby beamed. Finally her dad was going to leave his past behind him and begin his new life together with his wife and his daughter.

“Exactly dad!” smiled Ruby.

“Give me 10 or 9 years and I’ll be just like you and my heroes!”

“And who exactly are your heroes?” Roy asked in an interested tone. But before Ruby could even speak the announcer on the TV bellowed

“But what’s this?! Coming up from behind are 2 dark horses challenging Percy Alam and Spice for the lead! Could it be?......yes! It's Pete Ford in the British rail rover and Charles Watfield in the Atari Ford capri!" 

Ruby's eyes lit up and looked directly at the screen with no signs of turning away anytime soon.

“They are....” Ruby mused.

End of part 3...