Free Fastback Beach by Shirlee Matheson Page A

hand down for balance and it touches something soft on the seat. I hold it up. A kid’s teddy bear. Aw, jeez, we’ve stolen some family guy’s car. I throw the bear onto the floor and brace as we hit a dune and become airborne.
    Spider yells and laughs as he spins another donut. Sand fills the air. “Hey, bro, your turn!” He and Larry fling open the doors and do a fast runaround to exchange seats.Larry floors it and misses the shift into second. The engine screams and the car lurches like it might fold double.
    I yell, “Stop!” Larry does. I’m thrown between the two front bucket seats, my head connects with the upper edge of the wind-shield and I’m out cold.
    A light shines in my face. My eyes water and my head pounds.
    â€œKid’s hurt. Call an ambulance,” a deep voice growls. I hear someone talking on a radio. I try to sit up. Can’t.
    I’m sprawled across the front bucket seats of the Mustang with my legs hanging out the open driver’s door. I throw my hand over my eyes to shut out the light.
    â€œWell, kid, you got some ‘splainin’ to do!” Someone’s being funny, sounding like Desi talking to Lucy on those old reruns Mom watches. I try to sit up. My head, half-stuck under an armrest, threatens to explode so I lie back again. I hear sirens but I can’t move.The passenger door is thrown open and my head falls back. A guy stares down at me.
    â€œCareful here! Head injury. Could be vertebrae damage.
Stretcher!
” He snaps the command and my lights blink out.

Chapter Two
    â€œMiles John Derkach, you are charged with theft over $5,000. How do you plead?”
    â€œGuilty.”
    Mom gasps from behind me. She wanted to hire a lawyer but I said no. The lawyer would discover I wasn’t alone, maybe that I wasn’t even driving.
    I glance back to see Mackenzie sitting beside Mom. She gives me a small encouragingsmile. “Kenny” and I have been dating for four months. Great way to impress your girlfriend.
    The judge coughs. “Miles Derkach, I could revoke your driver’s license for a period of ninety days. However, as this is your first offence and there is some suspicion that you were not alone in this caper, I will set a probationary period for that same amount of time. You will report weekly to a probation officer.”
    My feet itch inside my boots, but his next sentence stops any nervous reaction.
    â€œIn addition, you will perform one hundred hours of community work.”
    What?
    â€œI recommend that you be assigned to work with a senior citizens’ organization. Hopefully, the experience will help you gain some respect for people and their property. If this group can’t help you, son, no one can. Next case.”
    I slowly get up and walk out of the courtroom past Mom and Kenny. I’m sorelieved to be getting out of there that I fire up a smoke even before I’m out the door. A group of probation officer types give me dirty looks. One breaks away, strides towards me and plants herself solidly in my path. “Miles Derkach, I am Ms. Kirkpatrick, your probation officer. Just where do you think you’re going?”
    â€œOut,” I say, waving the cigarette.
    â€œNot so fast.” She points a sticklike finger at my smoke. “Put that out!”
    I turn around and jam the cigarette into an ashtray, even though I’ve only taken a couple of drags.
    â€œI have your community work assignment ready for you,” she snaps. “Come with me.”
    I glance over at Mom and Kenny and give them the high sign. Mom wipes her eyes and Kenny winks. She’s so beautiful! Brown curly hair that just doesn’t quit, big brown eyes and on top of all that she’s a great mechanic.
    I follow
Miz
Kirkpatrick. She takes meto her office and spreads out some papers. I lean against the doorframe. “Sit!” she commands. I do.
    â€œMiles Derkach, you have one hundred hours of