"To Be or Not to Be, That is the Existential Question" If given the power of a comic book superhero, is that person obligated to play the part for the greater good?

To Be or Not to Be, That is the Existential Question

Chapter 4: Wanting to Be

Last Time:

It wasn't too much longer and the doctor showed up with a manilla envelope, He said, "you're good to go for now. You are now official. Here is a revised birth certificate, driver's license, school ID and bank cards. Your bank accounts have already been changed." Looking at dad, "All you need to do is change the info on her insurance."

Mom, dad and I all thanked the doctor for being such a tremendous help. I even hugged him before he turned to leave. Yeah, I really like hugs.

At the door, he turned back, "I almost forgot. In the envelope is a card with Byron and my phone numbers. If you need anything or get in trouble, call one of us. I'll leave you to change and go. Just remember that I want to see you, end of next week. Good luck kiddo."

It didn't take long to change clothes. As we made our way to dad's car, semi hidden on the side street of the hospital, a 2018 Mitsubishi Evo Xi custom built.

We just had sat down in the car and latching the seat belts when dad's cell phone rang, he answered, "Yes Red Dragon. We're just leaving now." I can hear some heated discussion dad was having with the person on the other end of the call. My aunt Connie. Dad only called her Red Dragon when he wanted her to know that she was interrupting him.

And Now:

Starting the car, he concluded his call with a deep sigh, "Alright, alright. I'll be there in ten minutes." Looking in the mirror at me, "Make that, we'll be there. I've got the family with me, just leaving the hospital now."

Ending the call, dad says, "Connie is having trouble with a customer that seems that, the only person who can answer his questions is, me. This won't take long I promise."

He started off and I thought that it had been a long time since I had been to dad's shop. Actually, his and aunt Connie's. Growing up, dad had been a better than average mechanic and street racer, and parlayed that into a lucrative custom shop catering to the mid to high level want-to-be racers. Building rally and time attack cars for people across the country. Hence his choice in cars.

I had got bored with his shop cause I had no interest in racing, much to his unhappiness. Aunt Connie helped him by managing the business and their three buildings of their compound. The compound was in an up-scale industrial area of Portland, catering to the more fashionable.

Pulling into the compound, it was evident that nothing had changed in the years since I was last here. The three 36ft by 108ft buildings arranged in the shape of a U, all but the last thirty six feet of the right side building had hanger style doors front and back, each being a bay. Each bay was three work stations deep. The building on the left was for all the major work done to cars, with all the required equipment to get the work done, the last two bays were the machine shop.

The rear building handled all body and paint work with four paint booths. The right hand building was for final assembly and finish work and car maintainance. And ending with the offices and showroom closest to the gate from the street.

It was the first door on the right after the office that dad parked in front of, as it was the only open door, light shining out to the parking lot. The only other lights on besides the normal lot lights, were a couple of the offices, Connies and dad's, and the dim after hours showroom lights.

Getting out of the car with dad, it was obvious that Connie was having a heated conversation with a man, who kept gesturing to the car just inside the doorway, a 2019 Kia Soul, built as a modified stock class time attack racer.

Seeing dad's arrival, the customer turned on him and says, "What are you going to do? It's not working like it should. The motor is off and the handling is all over the place."

Dad answers, "Now, Jim, I told you that you were going to far with this car. Too much power, the way you have to be on and off the throttle upsets the motor controller, it never gets the chance to get the tune right."

Jim asks, "But, isn't there something we can do to make it right? There's got to be something Harry!"

Dad says, "There are two things we can do, 1, we can take motor out of the car, less power gives you a chance for the mapping to catch up." Seeing Jim shake his head, "Or, we build a better car for that kind of power."

Knowing the kind of delante that Jim was, dad was sure he would opt for number two.

It doesn't take more than a few seconds for Jim to say, "What car do you think Harry?"

Dad must know that this guy is a cash cow that is ready for milking time. "Jim, I think the perfect car for you would be a Subaru WRX STi. That way, when you're ready, you can go move up in class."

Jim gets a big smile on his face, "When can you start on it if I get a stock car to you in the next couple days?"

Dad says, "We're not too busy right now, so, I say we can start on it just as soon as you get it to us." Walking Jim back to his truck and trailer he hauled the Soul in, dad asks, "What do you want to do with the Kia?"

Jim thinks, "Put the mild motor back in it and sell the hot motor for what you can to cover some of the new build." And looking at me, seemingly seeing me for the first time, "This your kid Harry."

Dad says, "Yes, this is my daughter, Glenyth."

Looking back to me and gesturing at the car, a '17 Kia Soul painted Bright Magenta, and had a black carbon fiber splitter / front spoiler and an outragious rear wing, "What do think Glenyth, do you like the car?"

I nod my head and say, "Yes, sir, it's very cute!" I know it wasn't what most would see as a performance car, but that is what I liked about it. Let them laugh, cause if they wanted to throw down with me, I would leave them crying.

He reaches his hand out, "Every pretty girl should drive a cute car. She's all yours."

Looking to dad to see if it was okay, "Thank you Mr ..." Dad whispers, Dalton, "Mr Dalton. That's very sweet of you."

Jim laughs, "Sweet nothing Lil lady, I know your dad, and I know that he will give me fair trade on the work for the new car, so just saving the hassle of selling it. Have fun!"

He then climbs into his truck and drives away.

Dad and I turn back to the open garage, where mom is chatting with aunt Connie.

When we get close, Connie says, "Your mom told me all about what happened to you, come give auntie Connie a hug." Connie was always a hugger, something that I didn't understand why until recently.

Releasing me from the hug, but, holding me at arms length, she turns me side to side, "Mmm, you make one fine looking girl Glenyth. You are going to have to let me take you shopping. We'll take your mom too."

"That actually sounds like fun aunt Connie." Connie was a real 'Fashionista', and her earnings from the business allowed her to indulge.

Connie says, "How about tomorrow, Harry can run the office for a couple of hours. What do you think Helen." Mom agreed.

Dad just laughs, "If I know my sister, it's likely going to take most of the day, But that's fine." Looking over at me, "What do you think Kiddo, want to try out your new car before we change the motor? The lot is mostly empty."

I got in the car to see if we would have to alter anything for me to fit. Turns out it fit perfect. As I backed the car out after buckling up, I heard Connie ask, "Jim, gave her the car?" That's the last I heard before putting the car into gear for a couple of laps around the lot. It took a little practice to learn to use the paddle shift without using the clutch, But soon I was almost drifting the car around the corners.

>>>>--------------->

The ride home was filled with talk between dad I about my new car, and about cars in general. He was a little impressed that I had such good control over the car, and I admitted that I was just as surprised as he was. He thought that in my current state, my body might be more sensitive than the average person. Dad still said that he was going to, 'take some motor' out of the car.

Now that I had a vested interest in cars, I asked him what he was going to do to the car. He said that leaving in the current motor, he could change a chip with detuned EMS (Engine Management System) programing, that would make the motor a better all around choice for the street.

Dad explained that it would take a few days to get the cars registration changed over to me, and then I could drive the car to school.

When we got home, dad said that since he didn't know what changes I wanted to make in my room, that he had left it pretty much the same as I last say it. Mom said that they had cleared out the old clothes since nothing was fit for a girl to wear.

I thanked them when dad said he would make any changes to the room I wanted over the weekend unless I wanted to take one of the two spare rooms. I ended up taking the bigger spare room that Connie usually used if she stayed the night since it was already a color I liked and had a vanity as well as a desk. Plus, it had a bigger bed and closet.

I took my one bag of clothes into my new room to hang up before dinner. Aunt Connie had left some clothes here, but the sizes were all a little on the big size. Which was all to the good, since her, and my tastes varied quite a lot. To be fair to her, though, if I were the same age, I might be tempted by what she had left.

Looking over her choices of cosmetics left here, I felt I could get by for a while. I played around with eye shadow and lipstick, finishing with a light Smokey eye look and lipstick that was a dark red. Sort of a 'goth lite' look. I kind of liked it.

Mom had not asked what I would like, but ordered a wide selection of the KFC menu on Uber Eats. Which was a good choice as I was really hungry. Who knew that driving laps in a parking lot could be so much work.

I said as much to dad as we sat down at the dining room table. Yes a real dining room table. Mom insisted on that to keep the family close.

Dad says, "It's really a lot of exercise when you get sawing the steering back and forth to control the drift through the corner, then throw in the hand brake and it becomes quite a workout."

Mom asked, "How did you feel after that? Any sore muscles?"

I said, "No, I felt great afterwards. Whatever happened when I changed, left me stronger than before. How much, we'll need to figure out still. Always good to know your limits."

Dad admits, "It's always better to know your limits in the safe environment of our home gym, where no one will see you do something un-natural. Thankfully, you have your personal shield to keep you safe. And for the time being we keep this all on the quiet until we know who to trust."

I ask, "Is that why you didn't say anything to aunt Connie about anything other than the gender change?"

"Yes," Then adding, "Connie and you never had much to keep you close, just the shop and the occasional family dinner. That and with her traveling for the shop to visit events and looking in on our interests abroad. It's in hers and your best safety if she doesn't know."

He said that when the time was right, we would let her know everything.

Ater we done eating, we sat together on the big couch to watch dad's favorite show, NCIS. It didn't take long for me to sucome to the temptation of sleep, cuddled against the warmth of my dad.

End of Chapter 4

Thank You for Reading!

Mopar

Goddess Blessings!