Free Ash by Shani Petroff

please.” Theron’s voice filled the arena, and I shook my head in disbelief. I still couldn’t believe that he’d managed to talk his way into announcing the race. Having a destiny like ‘make the minister closest to your age laugh’ came with privileges I couldn’t begin to fathom. “Before we begin, we have a special message. So if I can have a moment of silence.”
    Theron sounded serious, and he was never serious when there was an audience around. Laira gave me a questioning look, but I just shrugged. I was as confused as she was.
    “As many of you know,” Theron began, “Aldan Harris’s whole life has been leading up to this moment. As a result, his brothers would like to share a special tribute with the audience today.”
    The cameras turned to show five of my older brothers, Carlen, Shay, Strom, Pel, and Kai. A large purple “1” was painted on each of their faces, for Aldan’s jersey number. They were laughing so hard that they could barely hold up their individual signs, which read together: BEEP BEEP. LOOP RACER. COMING THROUGH. WHOA! WHOA!
    “Oh no,” I said, starting to laugh. “Poor Aldan.”
    Laira and Sol both turned to me in confusion.
    “What does it mean?” Laira asked.
    “You’ll find out,” I said between giggles. “Look,” I pointed to the screens overhead.
    They showed a projection of Aldan at four-years-old, splashing in the bathtub. He sang enthusiastically through the soapy beard that bubbled from his chin. “Beep, beep,” he crooned, honking an imaginary horn. “I’m a loop racer, and I’m coming through, whoa whoa. Beep beep,” he began again, singing another round.
    A second camera zoomed in for a close-up of Aldan, who was laughing hysterically from the track. He began singing along with his younger, wetter self and the crowd joined his laughter.
    I couldn’t believe Theron had gotten this broadcast approved. I looked up toward the Box with a grin, and a tiny flutter of the heart. Knowing Theron, he probably hadn’t. My mother must be seething. The after-party would be interesting. I could almost hear her now. How could you disgrace such a noble and prestigious event? I laughed again.
    When Aldan’s song came to an end he pressed an imaginary horn and hollered out a final “beep beep.” The audience howled with laughter, chanting my brother’s name.
    Everything quieted down when the clock tower chimed five o’clock. The race was set to begin and we all gave a moment of silence to mark the occasion. Then the eight competitors took their places.
    “Eight, seven, six, five, four, ” Theron counted down, his voice increasing in excitement. “three, two, one!” He sounded the horn and the racers rocketed off of the ramp. They were on the first leg of the track, trying to gain whatever speed they could for the first incline. It was the smallest, only fifty feet, but that was plenty of room to still get hurt. If one of the players fell from the tracks, their board would repel against the stadium’s metal flooring to stop their fall. But if they didn’t brace themselves properly, they could still get seriously injured. No matter how many times I watched Aldan race, I still found myself holding my breath from the moment he took off until the moment he crossed the finish line.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, there’s no surprise here,” Theron announced over the speakers. “Aldan Harris is already in the lead. Followed closely—although not too closely—by Tred Nier and Lemad Loring. The other five, come on guys, speed it up. I’m looking at you Reiner Walley. Some people have you as a shoo-in for second, though my bets are on Lemad. That is if I were a betting man. Which, of course, I’m not. Though to be clear, if I was , I’d have Aldan finishing the race in three minutes, fifty-two seconds.”
    The middle screen displayed Theron giving the ministers a huge grin and thumbs up sign. Minister Worthington scowled at him. That is until he realized a hovercam was