Adventures of Tedesco - A Day At the Park

I wrote a brief adventure for my boy placing him as the main character a few years in the future. I tried to stay close to the car racing / Hot Wheels theme in which he’s been totally enmeshed as of late. The silly guy enjoyed it. That pleased me.


Adventures of Tedesco - A Day At the Park


Tedesco awakened early on Saturday morning. His dog was at the bottom of the stairs wagging her tail to greet him good morning. His mom, dad, and sister were still asleep. He helped himself to a pair of pop tarts and got a cool drink of water. He saw that his dog also needed water and refilled her bowl.

He was in the family room designing a radical new Hot Wheel track on his computer when everyone else came downstairs. The family had plans to go to the park after breakfast. Tedesco was anxious. The park was going to be fun. Not because of the slides and swings that he used to enjoy when he was a young kid, but at 14 years old he was looking forward to the race car show that was at the park today.

The family got to the park early while all the cars and hot rods were still being set up, arranged, and prepared for the viewings. Dad bought hamburgers, fries, and pops for everyone. Tedesco was a growing boy and the single hamburger was not enough.

“Mom, I’m still hungry. May I have a few dollars, please? I’d like a large hot dog with everything on it,” said Tedesco rubbing his belly.

“I don’t know where you keep putting it all. You already ate four of your dad’s pancakes for breakfast and two eggs. Here you go,” handing him a five dollar bill.

Eating the last bite of his burger he thanked his mom and walked to the snack shack. He placed his order and then noticed a couple guys arguing about something. They were a few years older than he was.

“No, I can’t do it. My ankle is hurt. I can’t drive. The race is off,” explained one of the guys.

“There’s no canceling out. This was to settle things. You race or you lose,” said a boy in jeans and a blue t-shirt.

“If you can’t race, then you lose. You’ll have to give him your Hot Wheels collection,” said a third guy.

“No way. That wasn’t the deal,” said the first boy with the hurt ankle.

“Then you’ll have to find someone else to race for you. How about him,” said the boy in the blue shirt pointing to Tedesco who was watching and eating his hot dog.

“Hey, man, you want to drive this car?” said the hurt boy limping toward Tedesco. “I got in an argument with that guy in the blue shirt last week about who’s car was better. He said that we should race and the winner gets the other guy’s Hot Wheels collection. Then I hurt my ankle skateboarding. I can’t lose my Hot Wheels! They’re awesome! You gotta help me,” he explained.

Chewing down the last of his dog Tedesco said, “I feel bad for you, but I’m only 14. I don’t even drive yet.”

“Look, you know the Hot Wheels video game, don’t you,” asked the boy with the ankle.

“Of course. Who doesn’t,” Tedesco retorted matter of factly.

“Well, my car has been modified so that it drives using the same kind of controls. Take a look,” said ankle.

Peeking into the vehicle Tedesco saw that this car did indeed have the video game controls instead of the steering wheel. “Easy, yeah, I can drive this. Where are you guys racing?”

“Right over there,” pointing to a race track just beyond the park. The park was equipped with sweet safety features that prevented the cars from smashing together and keeping the drivers safe. “I tell you what. If you beat that guy, I’ll let you pick any two Hot Wheels from his collection. What do you say,” asking Tedesco hoping that he’ll say yes.

Tedesco looking at the other driver then back to the guy with the bad ankle, “I’ll do it. But I want three cars and another hot dog if I win.”

Smiling very large, “That’s a deal. Hey, what’s your name anyway?”

“Tedesco,” getting into the car, starting it, putting on the seat belts, checking the mirrors, revving the engine, and then driving to the starting light.

All the guys assembled at the track. They watched as the starting light went from Red . . . Yellow . . . GREEN.

The other guy got off to a fast start and was way ahead of Tedesco. But staying calm and cool Tedesco was still getting familiar with the controls and the contour of the track. The car was accelerating nicely and the traction was great. He was slowly gaining on the other car when the other driver dumped some slippery oil onto the track. Tedesco saw this and deftly avoided the mess and retained control of the car. The race continued to be close but Tedesco still trailed. As they approached the last lap the other driver accidentally drove over the oil that he dumped onto the track the lap before. He lost control of his car and crashed into the padded sides. Tedesco raced past and crossed the finish line. The checkered flag was waving wildly.

The other driver felt bad about losing the race but it was his own fault. He didn’t race fair when he dumped the oil. He shouldn’t have cheated and that ended up costing him the race.

The guy with the bad ankle was very happy with his race effort and let him pick the three Hot Wheels, “You were so awesome out there!” He was so happy that he also bought him a milk shake to go along with that hot dog.

“You were gone for a while,” said his mom when he returned to his family.

“Yeah, I was talking to some guys by the snack shack,” he said.

“Where’d you get those Hot Wheels and the milk shake,” his mom asked.

“There was a special today,” said Tedesco handing his Hot Wheels to his dad to see. “Do you want some milk shake,” sharing it with his younger sister.

The family walked on toward the show cars, “What’s for dinner tonight,” asked Tedesco.


-klem
2/15/2009