She looked at him with kind eyes, “You’re just jealous because it’s me racing these cars and not you. Walter nothing’s going to happen so just relax would ya.” Letty at age nineteen was no easier to deal with since she moved in with Walter. He hadn’t expected her to be. But what he had expected was for her to listen to him. Her brother’s were no help; they were always encouraging her to go street racing.

Water wasn’t trying to be the old man that he was it was just that he had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that just wouldn’t go away.

“Let me go with you then sugar, just so I can check things out and when I’m satisfied I’ll leave. Right after you win.” he said turning away and picking up a pipe cleaner.

“No Walter.” Letty said firmly. “I’m gonna get that car tonight. I can promise you that, so be ready in a few hours to strip her down.” She said while pulling on a lose leather jacket. “I’m wearing your jacket for luck. See ya in a few!”

Walter watched Letty walk out the door with a determined step that she always added before going to the racing strip. In one last attempt he ran out the door which, was no great feat for him even if he was pushing sixty-one.

“If I can’t stop you from racing tonight then don’t race for slips.” Letty glared at him from under soft brown brows. He could see the determination and the desire to be gone and on the road reflecting in her eyes.

“Fine if you won’t listen to me then what ever happens tonight is all you. Don’t ask me to come and bail you out somewhere in the middle of the night.” He slammed the car door on her ’98 Honda civic and stalked back into the garage.

He picked up the gun he had been cleaning and set to it furiously rubbing away. If she wanted to go out there, and risk her car, that was her business. Who was he to tell her to stop?

“Walter, man, you’re gettin’ old.” He said to himself in the empty car garage.