Terry Terry

Chapter 24"The bet at the hippodrome"

♪♪Sugar, ah honey honey
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
Honey, ah sugar sugar
You are my candy girls
And you got me wanting you

I just can't believe the loveliness of loving you,
(I just can't believe it's true)
I just can't believe the one to love this feeling to
(I just can't believe it's true)

Sugar, ah honey honey
you are my candy girl
and you got me wanting you
honey, ah sugar sugar
you are my candy girl
and you got me wanting you♪♪

That song from Archies was playing on the radio, on that Sunday afternoon; the weather was nice enough to bring the British Upper Class out to see the Ascot Racecourse. Terry listened to the song, like he needed a song to remind him of that obnoxious Candy Grandchester! And it worked, he was singing along in his mind. When they got to the racecourse, Terry and Jones sat down with Mr. Brighton who had a brochure in his hands.

- That British accent, sounds like foreign language to me, said Jones.

- I know! Said Terry laughing, I'm starting to get use to it, but not quite! And you haven't heard anything yet!

They burst out laughing. Mr. Brighton was reading the brochure.

- Hey guys, he said, there's a horse named "Pony Flash" that was born and bred in America, from the Steve Ranch.

- That's Tammy's Ranch! Said Terry.

- What are the odds of us being here and see a horse from back home perform?

- Tammy's horse! Said Terry, let's go see it...

- All right, are you coming dad.

- Yeah, why not?

They all went to see the famous "Pony Flash" from the Steve Ranch... They looked at the picture and saw a nice white horse and walked to it.

- Here he is, said Terry, he looks amazing, like a real winner...

- He does look amazing, said Jones.

- From the Steve Ranch, maybe I took care of him when he was younger...

Terry smelled a perfume, he would've recognized anywhere...Jones turned around, because he smelled the perfume too, it was a very beautiful girl, all dressed in white.

- Hello sir, said the girl, would you kindly tell the gentleman over there, this is my horse and its name is "Royal King" and not "Pony Flash"?

Jones felt the vibe between Terry and the girl. Something was going on and he played along.

- Hello there, and sure, anything for you Miss...

Then he turned to Terry.

- Terry, the lady said that's not "Pony Flash", but "Royal King"; her horse...

Terry looked at Jones, without looking at Candy, who was the girl in question...

- Jones, tell the lady to mind her own business, but that this horse is Pony Flash.

Jones turned to Candy.

- It appears, milady, that he's saying that the horse is indeed Pony Flash...

- Would you please tell the rude man, that I have the ownership papers to prove that this horse is Royal King, not Pony Flash, said Candy without looking at him.

Jones who was having fun, turned to Terry and said:

- She says it's her horse, not Pony Flash dude... dad? He asked.

Mr. Brighton was there and said;

- Pony Flash is over there, he said showing another horse, kind of chubby.

- Pony Flash, that big fat thing? Said Terry stunned.

Candy and Jones burst out laughing. Terry looked at them, he wanted to laugh, but he restrained himself.

- Jones, tell the lady that I don't care what Pony Flash looks like, if he's here in Ascot, that means he's a champ!

Jones turns to Candy with a smile and said:

- The gentleman says, Pony Flash can beat Royal King in the race

- Tell the gentleman, if that big fat thing beats my Royal King, I will forget he's ever existed and stay way from him. But If Royal King wins; he would have to kiss me with my bad breath...and get a tummy ache.

Jones was enjoying himself; this was getting juicier by the minute. He didn't know what on earth they were talking about, but it didn't take a genius to realize that there was a connection between the lady and Terry.

- Dude the lady said if Pony Flash wins, she disappearing from your life and if he loses, you get a smooch with her bad breath, whatever that means! Did you tell her she had a bad breath?

- Jones...

- Dude! That's not like you at all!! What's the matter with you? Did you look at her? Said Jones stunned.

- Jones! Ask the lady, what if Pony Flash is a close second?

Jones turned to Candy and said.

- What if Pony Flash is second or third?

- Because you're so kind, tell the gentleman, that if Pony Flash is among the first tree, I will disappear from his life...

- That would be such a shame, I hope Pony Flash loses!

- Jones! Said Terry.

- The lady said if Pony Flash finishes in the first three, she will leave you alone forever...like that's going to happen!

- What? Said Terry, I believe in Pony Flash!

- Yeah right! That big fat thing is hopeless, said Jones.

- Jones, tell the lady that I accept the bet.

Jones turned to Candy:

- The gentleman accepts.

- Tell him I shall see him after the race.

And she walked away, leaving her perfume behind her for a while.

- What was that all about, bro? Is that why you didn't want to talk about girls? She amazing!

- She's obnoxious...

- She's sweet

- She's rude

- She's nice

- She's bossy

- Why are you looking for bad things about her? It's like you're doing everything to convince yourself that she's not good for you... Terry, is this about Antonia?

- Why would you say that? Antonia is gone, let her rest in peace.

- You're feeling like you're betraying her? Or what you are you feelings for that girl stronger than you want to admit?

- That girl is insufferable!

- You like her!

- I can't stand her!

- Uh uh, and "denial" is not just a river in Egypt!

- Put a sock in it Jones! Let's go back to our seats

Mr. Brighton approached them.

- Who was the elegant young lady you were with?

- She was nobody! Said Terry.

- That's Terry's girlfriend, said Jones.

- She's not my girlfriend! Said Terry.

- You could've introduced her to me, said Mr. Brighton.

- That brat doesn't deserve to be introduced to you! Said Terry.

Mr. Brighton looked at Terry amused.

- What do you think dad...? Said Jones.

- "The gentleman doth protest too much, methink" , said Mr. Brighton smiling.

- Shakespeare... that's pretty cool dad, said Jones smiling.

Terry wanted to say something, but they were right, he was protesting too much, so he kept mum until the race started. He was looking around and he saw Candy sitting higher behind them with a handsome young man. She was talking to him and laughing. He surprised himself wanting to be that guy she was laughing with...

"What on earth are you thinking!? I can't be with that girl! She's too different from Antonia... which is a good thing, I can't say that I was attracted to her because of that... now I'm making excuses to be with her... No! I can't be with that girl! But I can't get her out of my head!!!" He thought.

He had told himself that speech hundreds of times... But it still didn't feel convincing to himself.

The race was about to start. So he turned around and looked at the tracks. The race started, Royal King was in the lead, Pony Flash, was trying, really trying...

- Go Pony Flash, go, come on Pony Flash go!!! Yelled Terry and Jones.

Candy was looking at race calmly. She was sure about "Royal King. Her horse was a born winner. She was quietly talking to her companion and they were laughing together.

Pony Flash was on the track, running as fast as he could, but it was like he was not moving, you could see how much he was struggling to run and how much he was trying to pass the other horses, but it was no use...

- Come on Pony Flash, Terry was yelling, you can do it!!! Come on, make Tammy proud! Come on...

But Pony Flash did not honour the Steve Ranch, he came out fourth.

- He lost! Said Terry.

- Come on, said Jones, you really didn't think he was going to win against that superb specimen Royal King, he showed us he was royal and the King!

- Jones, you're getting on my nerves! Said Terry.

- What? Now you get to kiss a beautiful girl... why am I the bad guy!

- You're enjoying this way too much!!!

- I wonder why? I'm not the one who has to kiss a beautiful lady...I'm happy for you bro...

- Your solidarity is touching, said Terry ironically.

- What on earth are you two babbling about? Said Mr. Brighton.

- Guy stuff, said Jones.

- Well, I'm going to talk to some acquaintances; I'll see you in a bit...

- All right dad, said Jones.

Terry had to go and talk to Candy and he was sulking. Jones was making fun of him.

- I can't believe you're sulking!

- You don't understand Jones...

- But I do understand that you like this girl and you're forcing yourself to reject her...

- I have to go, Jones...

- Have fun! Said Jones laughing.

So he walked towards her, she was walking to the stables to go see her winning horse, alone, her companion seemed to have vanished. Terry was in no hurry to join her, but he finally did, despite his effort do delay the inevitable. Candy was inside the stables, waiting for her horse.

- Candy? He called.

She turned around.

- Where do you want it to happen? He coldly.

Candy looked at him.

- By golly, don't jumped of joy or anything...

- I don't like being forced...

- And I'm not in a habit to beg a guy for kiss, it's usually the other way around... Never mind the bet...Let's call it even, Pony Flash came out 3rd

- What? Pony Flash came in 4th...

- I thought he was third...

- Are you kidding me? Don't make fun of me!

- I'm telling you the bet is null and void!

- Don't do me any favours! I don't back down on a bet!

- Well I don't want to be kissed by some boy who feels he's forced to!

- Well you should've thought about that before opening you big mouth!

- You savage American! Get away from me!

- Not before I kiss you...

- I would rather kiss a horse...!

- Well you didn't make the bet with the horse, you made it with me! It was your idea and I'm going to honour it!!!!

- Oh you're a terri...

She didn't finish her sentence, Terry had taken her in his arms and shut her up with his lips. It was the first time he touched her, the touching sensation was incredible...his head was spinning, he almost let go of her, but he went through with the kiss... and he saw fireworks...