His Lucky Charm

Things are Loud

1998

Strip was running around his town. He was tired but kept going. He was kinda trapped in his mind, so he went running to just quiet the noise.

Lynda and the girls were at the house doing something. He didn't know.

He has caught himself thinking about all the hell he has been through. His father dying in front of him at the race track, his mother dying of cancer, losing his best friend, just so much all at once.

So he just ran.

As he ran, a familiar car slowly drove besides him. He just kept running.

"Need a ride kid?" Tex said as he rolled down the window. He shook his head.

"You've been running for about 2 hours."

"How do you know?" Strip said.

"Lynda called me. She was worried."

Strip figured she was. He started to slow down. He felt tears welling up in his eyes. He was tired, his body hurt, but his mind was so loud.

He eventually stopped. Tex pulled on the side and parked.

Strip just held his head as he teared up.

"It's not fair Tex." Strip said looking at the older man. Tex just stood there, listening as he put his hands in his pockets.

"I don't get to have my father watch me achieve his dream. Instead, I got to watch him die in a car. My mother, puts me through karting with her money instead of getting the chemo she needed." He was angry.

"My friend, hell my best friend blames me for his failures, and I get guilt tripped for possibly being the most talented driver of my generation." He kicked a rock away from him.

"Okay." Tex said.

Strip looked at him. "You can't even give me an answer..."

"Oh I got an answer for you kid. You think the greats get everything handed to them? You think you weren't going to go through trials, to build your confidence to become the 6 time champ you are!?" Tex said as he walked towards him.

"Because your father died in dinoco, you were never expected to be a racer. Until you still had a dream and a drive for it after your father was taken from us too soon." Tex said seriously.

"I'm only successful cause of you. Cause you signed me to dinoco." Strip said.

Tex laughed. "Kid... I may have adopted you, but I wasn't going to sign you if you were a shit driver."

Strip stopped talking. "You got where you are because of yourself. You pushed and pushed and got to NASCAR. You are a 6 time champ because of yourself and talent." Tex said as he grabbed his shoulders.

"I don't give a shit what chick says. Yes, he is talented, but not as talented as you. It's okay to recognize that you are the greatest, as long... as long as your humble about it. And honestly... you've been too humble". Tex said as he looked at his kid.

He had seen Strip grow from a 10 year old who was parentless, and traumatized by two deaths, turn into a father, a racer, and a legend.

Strip just looked at him teary eyed. "Don't let anyone ever tear you down again. You hear me?" Tex said seriously.

Strip nodded a bit. Tex just pulled him into a tight hug. Strip hugged him back and held onto him. "Okay."

Tex pulled from the hug and held his head. "Hold your head high." He sighed and then motioned him to follow him to the car.

"Get in. I got pizza for everyone."

"The girls are gonna love you for that." Strip said as he got into the car.

"Oh I know. Trying to be the best grandpa, gotta bring them pizza. I've also brought a glass of wine for the adults." Tex smirked as he started driving.

"Ahh good good. Imma need a glass. My body is so sore." He said realizing running for two hours was a mistake.

"Yeah I bet."

The two pulled up to the house. Strip got out of the car. Lynda was standing there, arms crossed.

She wasn't happy.

Strip grabbed a flower from the garden. He walked up to her and handed it to her. "I'm sorry, sunshine." He said.

She held the flower and then smacked his arm. "Giving me a heart attack. Come on strip..." she said with worry in her voice.

"I know. I won't do it again." He said calmly. She nodded as she looked at him. "Are you feeling better?"

"A little bit. Things were getting a bit too loud." He said as he tapped his head. She ran her fingers through his hair, which nearly made him melt.

"Lemme know next time okay?"

"Yes ma'am."

The kids enjoyed pizza and soda while strip enjoyed a glass of wine with his wife and father.

Lynda laughed as she watched the girls attempt some form of charades. Strip just teased them and was eventually dragged to do one.

He got up. He wasn't actually gonna do it. He just got Sarah into a headlock. Yes she was almost 20, but he didn't care.

Lily just laughed as she was promptly pulled into a headlock.

"I thought you two were playing charades."
Lynda said with a laugh.

"We were." He said as he let the girls go. The girls decided to play music and dance instead. The girls played a country song.

They grabbed their hats and their fathers. The ground decided to line dance for Lynda and Tex.

Tex just cheered for them as they all danced along with the music. Strip laughed as he grabbed his wife's hand and pulled her up to danced with her.

He spun her a bit as the girls sat down. Lynda just laughed and smiled as spun her once again. "Strip im gonna get dizzy."

"Hey you did this dance with me when we got married, can't do it now?" He teased.

"That was also 27 something years ago."

Strip just smirked and pulled her close.

"We still got it though."