The forgotten ticket.

Don't worry, we'll take her from here. That's what they had said. I've always had faith in doctors and now certainly wasn't the time for doubt. 3:27. This was going to be close.

I nodded in agreement and took off across the busy street to my car. Moments later, the engine roared into life, knowing it had a job to do and we were off. Down the street, hanging a quick right as the tires screeched, writing their signature along the asphalt.

Getting closer to end of the street, I saw the dreaded sign. Left Turn Only. Shit. Should've know better. Oh well. I came in hard, hearing the revs jump as I dropped into second, rubber howling all the way around the turn. I felt her as she lost traction in the rear left wheel, it was definitely now or never. Wrenching the steering wheel 450 and pulling the hand break seemingly from the depths of hell, onlookers watched as the car turned on a dime and the rear appeared briefly in the side mirrors.

3:28 No time to congratulate myself , I'm not going to make it. Correcting the over-steer, I slammed my foot down as the front wheels dragged the rear into place and we disappeared into a plume of smoke. Each of the gear changes existing only on the red line, second into third, third into forth. The Q.E.O. was coming up fast and I knew if this corner wasn't perfect, there was no chance of making that performance.

100 meters away.

Hold it.

50 meters away,

Hold it.

25 meters away.

Hold it!

10 meters away.

She groaned. She yelled. She went sideways. She hated the drop from fourth to second but there was no other way. The tachometer pinged hard as the revs ran high, all wheels now demanding traction but getting nothing in return.

3:29.

The digital clock digitally ticked over as the wheels that friction forgot remembered what they doing. The car slid left and right, switching back and forth between oncoming traffic and the parking lot. As I struggled to regain control while simultaneously avoid every tree nearby until finally, we screeched to a halt in a bay just outside the oval.

She had done her part but now it was my turn, sprinting for the old firehouse. My lungs lit aflame after years of avoiding exercise and the addiction that is being really cool, as I ran for the door. The two volunteers nearly cowered in fear as the adrenaline fueled monster, me, crashed into the brick wall to stop the momentum.

Ticket please? They asked timidly.

Ticket. Ticket. Ticket?

Shit.