Taking Chances

Chapter 25

The western side of Chalky's Hill was given over to the Billy Cart Bash. A dirt track of one hundred and fifty metres was roped off and spectators stood along the outside. Because of the lack of rain, the grass was dry and brown. Some council workers had sprayed the track with water to keep the dust down, which turned the dirt to a dirty brown colour. From the air, it would have looked like some giant's skid-mark on the side of the hill.

Shouts of delight and laughter assaulted Bec's ears. The fun runs were on. Overly-decorated carts cashed their way down the track to the amusement of the audience. Their drivers rolling and bouncing down the hill, while the carts crashed out. Soon the real races would start. It seemed to Bec that the whole town had turned out on this sunny, Saturday afternoon for the races. The teams had prep areas next to the track. At the top, Fletcher's Hardware had a team of three carts. Three was the limit for any team.

"There go the first losers!"

Bec turned her head. It was Tyler, Bayden, and Foster. The boys laughed and pointed at the carts that Ryan and the kids at the youth centre had made.

Ryan said, "Just keep walking. Don't even look at them."

The team obeyed. Arkell, Keysha, and Sally were piloting the carts today. Adam was along for support as were a couple of younger students who had helped build the carts and wanted to prove their loyalty and earn a driver's seat next year.

They walked past some more teams. The carts were a mismatch of timber, steel, bicycle wheels, and rope. Bec asked Ryan, "How could anyone win against Fletcher's Hardware. They've got real carts."

Ryan nodded. "They've got the money, the materials, and the knowhow to build them, but they don't have the heart." Ryan guided the team to a section sign posted with 'Youth Centre. Blue Team, Green Team, Red Team'

Ryan said, "All right, last minute checks. First race starts in ten minutes. Arkell, you're up first, against Sully's Sports Bar."

Arkell nodded and checked his cart over.

A cheer erupted in the background. Bec looked about her. A cart had gone too fast around a bend and rolled over, spilling the driver out. Bec looked more closely as the driver stood up and brushed himself off. It was Jerry!

"Yeah, he gets involved," said Ryan.

On the other side of the track, Bec saw Peter Watson with his camera out. She waved, but it didn't seem like he saw her.

Arkell was sitting in the blue cart, practising his steering technique by leaning from side to side. His steering system was a rope tied to either end of the steering bracket. At the green cart, Keysha was testing the brakes. She would be in Race two.

In the red cart, was Sally. She had an old motorcycle helmet on. Unlike Arkell, she had a real steering wheel from a scrapped Toyota Corolla. She would be in Race five. Adam Lee was crouching next to Sally talking softly.

Steven James walked by. "It'll take more than a fresh coat of paint to win this race."

Ryan merely glanced in his direction, "We re-used old materials. It's called sustainability. Community spirit is what it's really about."

"World's full of losers talking about community spirit. My money's on Fletcher." He walked off with his head held high.

Bec spoke quietly at Ryan's shoulder, "I can't believe I dated that jerk."