The Real LJ Idol - Week 1 - Damaged Glory

[erulissedances]

So, the Real LJ Idol is picking up once again. It's been a bit, so just to remind you, it's a group of us who are given prompts for which we need to write a story. that story then gets published along with others in the group, and when the stories go live, people are free to read and vote on those stories they like the best. I'm hoping that this one will be one of those that move to the next round. I had a lot of fun with this last time - it was my first time participating and I wasn't the first out nor was I the winner. It was great experience in writing to a prompt, however.

The prompt this time was "Someone who will love you in all your damaged glory" and here's what I came up with.

DAMAGED GLORY
Erulisse (one L)


Speed was everything. Although she had gone through the usual steps of wiggling, crawling, push-pull, run-fall-run and finally walking; before long she was running and it was all her parents could do to keep up with her little legs as they wandered from room to room in their small apartment.

A tricycle seemed to help calm her for a bit. It increased her speed. The furniture bore bruises, and one small table was put into the apartment dumpster, unsalvageable. Her parents discreetly replaced it when she no longer placed the furniture in danger, her control increasing and her height changing enough to allow for a true bicycle.

A bicycle! Speed that was only limited by how fast she could pump the pedals. Her time in training wheels was minimal – she was independent and craved more speed than her parents could muster, running next to her to keep her on the apparatus when she wavered.

Time continued and she grew older and taller. Bicycles morphed into motorcycles – dirt bikes and street bikes. She adored speed and the feel of the wind against her face. Motorcycles then morphed into automobiles, and she fell in love. She didn’t fall in love with a man or a woman, nor a child, not even a pet; the sound of a perfectly tuned engine under the hood made her heart race.

She began frequenting the racetracks around town. Initially she was tolerated by the pit crews as a bit of a pest. She asked too many questions. But she refused to leave, retreating to the sidelines but watching every move. Over time the crews became familiar with her presence, and a couple of the grease-hands began chatting with her while on their breaks. She asked a pointed question or two; “Why did this engine work better than that one?” “What would happen if they switched from this configuration to that one?”

They laughed at her inquiries, but they also answered them if they had the time. After many months, a couple of the men took her under their wings – so to speak – beckoning her closer when they were working on one or other tricky part on a carburetor or changing the spark plugs from one side or other. Slowly they grew used to her presence, and allowing her to hand them tools and teaching her as they went. She got limited hands-on experience, but she learned from the best.

She was in her mid-20’s when she started frequenting junk yards, looking for the perfect car for a personal project. She had saved her money – allowances when she was a child, wages as she grew up and worked part-time after school. She knew what she wanted to get – a sleek fast car that had seen better days. One that she could rework into a track-ready automobile.

“Hey. Gotta a car here – just came into the lot. Might ye wanna come and take a lookover,” the gruff voice barked.

“Will do”, she quickly replied. “I’ll be there in an hour or so, as soon as I finish this engine.”

“A-yup. I canna save it for you for longer than today.”

“Understood. I’ll be there. Thanks.”

Looking at the junked car in the lessening daylight, she nodded. It was in sad shape – one side caved in from the T-bone accident that had brought it to this fate. She was looking at a wreck. But in her mind, she saw it – new body panels painted in brilliant colors, a purring engine - perfectly maintained, and an oval around which she could race it. Nodding she went into the small office to pay the fees and arrange for it to be delivered to her workspace. “You’re going to be a speed demon on that track,” she murmured as she gave the twisted metal a stroke. “You’re going to be glorious!”

Comments

[adoptedwriter]

Love this 1st car story!

[erulissedances]

Awwww, thanks, and thanks so much for reading.

- Erulisse (one L)

[murielle]

I love it! This just grabbed hold of my reno-loving heart, hard.

[erulissedances]

I do love cars. DH tolerates them as a method of transportation, but I truly LOVE them. LOL

- Erulisse (one L)

[shirebound]

But in her mind, she saw it–

And that's where it all begins. Very nice.

[erulissedances]

Thanks, Hun. And thanks so much for reading too. *hugs*

- Erulisse (one L)

[tinnean]

This reminded me of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, where it took a genius to see what was behind all the damage and restore it to its previous glory. Thank you!

[erulissedances]

My pleasure, and thanks for reading. I channeled a bit of myself into this one - I always wanted to do this, but never had the time, place, materials and helper to accomplish it. But what fun it would be!

- Erulisse (one L)

[drippedonpaper]

A very relevant story as I teach my youngest kid to drive in the "starter car" (a 2004) that her siblings started with.

It's not a gorgeous car, but hey, it's wheels :)

I like how you took us through the character's childhood. You covered many years to show where her love came from :)

[erulissedances]

Oh, give me a car with a good engine and someplace to drive, and I'm in my happy place. If the engine is good and the body is sound, it's a perfect car. If either isn't ... well, that's a problem in the making. LOL

- Erulisse (one L)

[roina_arwen]

Very creative take on the topic!

[erulissedances]

Thanks so much!

- Erulisse (one L)

[winter_time]

Really love this take on the topic. I love cars a lot myself, so I really had fun with this.

[erulissedances]

What's not to love about cars, huh? LOL

- Erulisse (one L)

[favoritebean_writes]

I have a few friends who participate in the Lemons races, and this entry reminds me of the love they've put into their cars. I don't think their cars go very fast though.

I loved this entry.

[erulissedances]

Oh thanks so much! I adore cars (and am married to a man who could care less and wants transportation from A to B only).

- Erulisse (one L)

[halfshellvenus]

I didn't expect to see passion for a hobby or thing as a use of this prompt, and this was a nice surprise! Well done.

[erulissedances]

Thanks so much! This one was easy for me - I'm sure I'll fight with other prompts down the line - LOL.

- Erulisse (one L)

[muchtooarrogant]

I have no idea why, but after your first two introductory paragraphs, I pictured your character riding everything in the apartment. Bicycles after tricycles, motorcycles after bicycles, and what the hell, why not an automobile too? It was only when I read, "She began frequenting the racetracks around town," that the spell was broken. LOL

My own silliness aside, I enjoyed the story you told here. I'd be curious to peak in a bit later in her life. How has her obsession with speed worked out? Have any human connections superseded that desire?

Great entry.

Dan

[erulissedances]

Oh heavens - I see her as a rare female member of a pit crew at the Indy 500, of course - LOL.

These days, women can be anything they want. When I was a teenager, that wasn't the case.

- Erulisse (one L)

[thephantomq]

She reminds me of my kid -- his special interest is 100% school buses. Loves them. Adores them. Has since he was the age of 4.

I can only hope that others while indulge him and teach him as he starts to strike out a bit more on his own, like the folks in this story did for our main character <3

[erulissedances]

Hey - There's a good career in busses - either driving them or maintaining them. He might have a calling, and having reliable busses for our kids is VERY important. I still remember drivers from years and years ago who were reliable touchstones when I needed that.

- Erulisse (one L)

[fausts_dream]

What a cool take on the prompt, enjoyed.

[erulissedances]

Thanks SO much for reading and your comment. I appreciate it.

- Erulisse (one L)

[gunwithoutmusic]

Really enjoyed this story; it brought me back to my teenage years and the car my dad was restoring in our basement garage. :) Good work!

[erulissedances]

Oh wow - that would have been SO much fun. I would have been at my Dad's side throughout the restoration project, but my own Dad was a bookworm, so I read - LOL.

- Erulisse (one L)

[alycewilson]

Very cool! I love how this fits the prompt; how she can see the potential beauty inside that wreck. I also love seeing how she, in some ways, is like that car: underestimated but certain that there's something fierce beneath the hood!

[erulissedances]

I think that ability to see beyond the exterior of things is something that serves all of us well - whether it's a wreck of a car, or a person's sluffing off something that they actually would like to talk about.

- Erulisse (one L)

[static_abyss]

This was so entertaining and captivating from the beginning to end. I really enjoyed your descriptions and your storytelling. Thank you for sharing!

[erulissedances]

Thank you SO much. You just helped my Monday start out on a really good note.

- Erulisse (one L)

[bleodswean]

My husband loves damaged vehicles, too! And that's how we ended up with 23 of them. That's a lot of love! This was a fun read!

[erulissedances]

Twenty-three of them??? OMG! I've been thinking a lot of you with the fires, etc, and was starting to get worried. I'm glad to hear from you, and thanks so much for reading and commenting.

- Erulisse (one L)

[yachiru]

I live in a county where people frequently have yards full of junk car "treasures". :) I love the way you describe the car and how it represents choice/freedom.

[erulissedances]

I've always loved cars. Unfortunately, I married a man who simply doesn't understand that pull at all. LOL Thanks so much for reading and commenting, I appreciate it very much.

- Erulisse (one L)

[rayaso]

I loved the transition from tricycle to bicycle to motorcycle and finally to race cars. The description of hanging out in the pits and learning from the best was great.

[erulissedances]

Thanks! I guess it's a part of me that I was never able to indulge, despite the fact that I wanted to.

- Erulisse (one L)

[mollywheezy]

What a clever take on the prompt!

[erulissedances]

Thanks, and it's great to hear from you and see your name here in Idol once again.

- Erulisse (one L)

[mollywheezy]

Thank you!!! :)

[banana_galaxy]

You really packed a whole journey into this piece. Loved that it started from childhood interest and what it grew into.

[erulissedances]

Life is a journey, right? For her, it's a journey on four wheels. Thanks so much for the comment, and glad to see you in Idol once again.

- Erulisse (one L)