LatinosUSA

Heather hadn’t had a date since New Year’s Eve, and that was a disaster. The man got drunk and tried to persuade her to let in the New Year with a bang. She agreed and punched his nose. People laughed and applauded as she ran out of the nightclub.

Andrew wasn’t top-drawer material, but he was a warm, breathing body. The out-of-work, self-employed handyman, who once fixed her mother’s fence, approached her when she was out with friends, and asked if she would go with him to the races. She liked the idea of greenery, fashion, possible celebrity sightings, colourful silks, and horses, and happily accepted his invitation.

On the day, she spent almost two hours getting ready. Her shoes were new, and she borrowed a fascinator from her mother. She was disappointed when Andrew arrived to pick her up in his dirty work truck.

“Wow, you look sensational,” said Andrew.

“Why the ladders?” she asked. She didn’t want to frown too markedly at his battered vehicle. But the ladders presented a convenient opportunity to show displeasure. His boots, jeans, and a T-shirt advertising Budweiser beer hardly complemented her outfit. To Andrew’s credit, the van’s interior was spotlessly clean.

“They’ll give us the best view,” he said as they drove east to the track.

“What?”

“The ladders. They’ll give us the best view.”

Heather didn’t want to understand his explanation, so she remained quiet. She even held back a comment on the country music Andrew played on the radio.

An hour later, they drove past the track’s main entrance, where Heather caught a glimpse of the paltry stands and sparse crowd, and heard high-powered engines.

“Car races?” she asked, horrified.

“Of course. What were you … oh, that’s why you’re all dressed up – you thought we were going to see the geegees! Nah. That’s for the toffee noses. This is real racing.”

Heather’s stomach sank, and she wondered how low she would allow herself to go. They ignored a P sign and circled the stadium, if it could be called that, until Andrew parked in front of a high wall. She heard a crash and the cheers and jeers of people as she stepped out of the truck. She looked nervously at Andrew, worried that a driver could have been injured.

Andrew smiled as he hefted the ladders from their frame. “This’ll be fun,” he said enthusiastically as he propped the first against the wall.

Heather’s hand went to her throat. “What’s going on?”

“Wait a sec, you’ll see.”

He adjusted the height of the second ladder before placing it alongside its twin. “There you go. What do you think?”

“What do I think?” Realisation came as a shock. “I think you wouldn’t expect me to climb a ladder to see a car race.” Another crash drew sounds of appreciation from the thin crowd.

“And what are all the crashing sounds? Is this place safe?”

“Safe as a house. It’s a demolition derby, that’s all.”

“Demolition derby? What on earth is a demolition derby?”

“It’s a race where cars bump each other out of the way to get to the finish line. It’s fun. Come on, up you go. We each have a ladder, so we’ll be more comfortable. I’ll take care of the beers and munchies. I brought potato chips, beef jerky, and cheese twizzles. That okay with you?”

“Not really, no. You expect me to perch at the top of a ladder to watch cars bump each other off a track? Are you insane?”

He smiled. “Probably. You might find it fun, though, if you give it a go. What have you got to lose? You only live once, as they say.”

She felt she should appear willing, but it was difficult. “This isn’t what I expected,” Heather said as she put her foot on the first rung. Her sole felt as if it might slip, so she abandoned her stilettos. The rung felt uncomfortable on her bare foot, but she ignored the pain and started up the ladder. The pain became too great by the fourth rung. “Do you have some work boots or something in your truck?”

“No, but you can wear these. I’ve got thick socks on.”

Heather descended the ladder, wincing at each step. When she put the boots on, she found they were too big. The sensation of damp warmth was unpleasant against her bare flesh. “I know it’s probably a stupid question, but do you have anything I can stuff inside to make them more snug?”

Andrew took off his socks. “Here, stuff these in the toes. That should tighten them up a bit.”

Heather stuffed the warm, smelly socks into the boots and tried not to think of her manicured toes making contact with them. She laced the boots as tightly as she could and again started up the ladder.

“Well done, Heather, you’re almost there.”

A truck pulled up alongside Andrew’s. “Hey buddy, how’s it hanging?”

Andrew let go of the ladder to face his friend and shake his hand. “Hey, man. Good to see you. Hi, Dave,” he said to the second man who was taking ladders from their truck. “This here’s Heather. It’s her first time.”

The two men looked up at Heather, and she gathered her skirt in her right hand and pulled it tight against her legs.

 “Don’t worry, Heather. We’ve seen it all before,” said Dave with a laugh.

“Not mine, you haven’t,” said Heather between clenched teeth as she started to descend, using only her left hand to hold on to the ladder. Her feet felt unsure in the clunky boots.

“No, don’t come down.” Andrew’s growing frustration was becoming evident. “I’m just about to start up. Give me a sec, and we’ll open a cold one.” He turned to the two men. “Later, guys.”

Her forced goodwill towards Andrew evaporated. She stopped her descent, not confident she could stay calm, keep her balance, and talk rationally at the same time. “This has to be illegal, and I don’t feel safe on a ladder.” She heard hisses leave her mouth. “People will wonder what we’re doing.”

“You’ll be alright, Heather. I know it’s an unusual way to watch the races but there isn’t a better place, believe me. This is right next to a curve in the track that causes most of the collisions. You’ll have a great view.”

Andrew’s words and the begging look he gave her only strengthened her resolve to leave.

“Find yourself a comfortable perch. You balance one buttock on a rung and change position every now and then. It’s not as uncomfortable as it sounds, really. It is illegal in a way, but everyone turns a blind eye. If anyone asks, just tell them we’re fine.”

She lowered herself another rung. “Don’t bother climbing up the other ladder.” She still spoke between clenched teeth, mad as hell but not wanting to cause a noisy scene. “We’re leaving.”

“What do you mean, leaving? We only just got here.”

Another rung. “Do you often bring dates here? Are there women who actually put up with this?”

“Yeah, there are. The ones who don’t think they’re so special. Not fucking princesses like you.”

“Believe me, Andrew, one doesn’t have to be a princess to think this is appalling. Why didn’t you explain what a trip to the races entailed? Is that why you call me a princess, because I have a little class? You should never have asked me out.”

“That goes two ways! You should never have accepted.”

“Oh, I agree with that! It won’t happen twice, believe me.”

Andrew collapsed the ladders, slammed them back in their frame, put on his returned socks and boots, and started for home. Neither spoke. The country music station broadcast songs of wrong love and bad love, and Heather switched it off without a word from Andrew.