Benny Moon: Racing the Medicine Wheel

By Salem Wolf Heart

Benny Moon wants to be a motocross champion.

Benny Moon comes from a long line of champion racers. As the big race approaches, Benny feels lost and lonely.  His father leaves home, his mother is always working, and a fellow racer bullies Benny on the track. When Benny believes his thirteenth birthday has been forgot

• Language: English
• Publisher: IngramElliott
• Release date: May 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9780996686440

Book preview

1

The Big Race

Rain! Mud! Poor traction and no dad! What else can go wrong? Benny’s mind races. I’m about to run one of the most important races of my life and I’m all alone. I have to win this race! It will guarantee me a spot in the North Carolina Motor Cross Regional Championships.

Benny remembers his grandfather, Grandpa T, won this same race twice. His dad, Thomas, followed in Grandpa T’s footsteps, a champion for three years straight.

Today, it’s my turn! shouts Benny to no one in particular. The engines roar as the bikers line up.

Motor cross racing is a way of life for the Moon family. Benny began racing after his dad’s serious accident, which ended his father’s racing career. Thomas became coach, teaching his son the art of racing.

I need you, Dad. I need your signals on race day, mutters Benny to himself. "Promises, promises, adults make promises and don’t keep them."

Grandpa T always keeps his word, but he’s gone too, at some big Native American event. Dad’s away doing something important for the Marines. Benny feels sorry for himself as he considers the idea of racing without them cheering him on.

Important…I’m important! This race is important!

Benny scans the crowd one more time, hoping to see Dad or Grandpa T. In the distance, Benny catches a glimpse of his mom’s fiery red hair. He spots a man sitting next to her. Benny is excited. He thinks his dad has arrived. With a closer look, Benny sees his mom, Casey, sitting next to Richard, Rick Skye’s father.

Benny’s Irish temper kicks in as his anger begins to boil. His face reddens to match his hair. Rick is Benny’s fiercest rival, and his mother’s seat next to Richard feels like a betrayal. Benny tries to restrain his emotions and concentrate on his motorcycle. Recalling Grandpa T’s advice, he pushes all thoughts away and focuses on the race.

The racing official lowers the starting flag and the racers jolt forward. In spite of his turmoil, Benny is off to a good start, and he leads the pack. On the first turn, Rick makes his move to catch up with Benny. Without hesitation, he recklessly runs two riders into the ditch and causes havoc with several others. Tension mounts as all the riders fight for the lead.

Benny and Rick speed forward side by side. Rick edges Benny off the track.

Get over! shouts Benny as Rick once again moves too close to be safe. The front tires of their bikes are inches from touching. Once again, Grandpa T’s voice echoes in his head, Stay focused.

Rick and Benny narrowly make it over a high jump without wrecking. Benny knew one little bump could be disastrous.

You’re going to lose this one, Moon, one way or the other! shouts Rick.

Rick stumbles, and loses his balance as he kicks the tire on Benny’s motorcycle. Benny turns the throttle and hurtles ahead of Rick.

Rick is such a slimy racer and everyone knows it. He is always trying to push riders off the track. Why don’t the officials ever see him do this stuff? Is he invisible?" wonders Benny.

Benny gains a small lead and starts to relax when he realizes Rick has dropped back. Benny reflects on all the useful things he has learned from his Native American grandfather. Figuring out how to focus when some creep is breathing down your neck is not one of them.

In a flash, Rick surges to the front of the pack and purposely swerves towards Benny. They are neck and neck again. Rick’s back tire spins through a wet patch and mud splatters, covering Benny’s visor.

I can’t see, I’m losing it! shrieks Benny. His motorcycle begins to slide wildly out of control and careens toward the fence.

Look out! He’s coming right at us! shouts a spectator in the crowd. Running for safety, they scatter in different directions.

Benny’s back wheel catches on a metal post, twists the bike, and throws him forward over the handle bars. He lands hard on a jagged rock and scrapes his head. Benny’s right ankle twists underneath him painfully.

For a moment there’s no movement. Benny’s mind screams, I can’t move. What if I can’t walk? Am I going to die?

Benny wiggles himself free from under the bike and realizes that he’s alive. As he looks around, he sees a crowd gathering around him.

As he attempts to stand, a sharp pain brings tears to his blurry eyes. A trickle of blood runs down the side of Benny’s face. Defeated and injured,