Jessica ran in the backdoor of her sister Erica’s house. She found her older sisters seated at the table drinking coffee.
“You’re never going to believe who’s coming to the Haunted Hallow’s Grand Prix!??
Eshne replied, “Nope. Not even gonna try.”
Erica frowned at her elder sister, “Don’t antagonize her. She’s obviously excited about it. Who, sweety?”
“Lavender Lightning!”
Erica shrugged, “Who’s that?”
Jessica looked dumbstruck, “You’ve never heard of the Lavender Lightning?”
Eshne spit out her coffee, “Lavender Lightning? Haven’t thought about her since I graduated.”
Erica asked, “You know her?”
“Yeah, we both know her. She was in my year at Haunted Hollows. She’s that girl we thought had a crush on the captain of the Honey Badger’s quidditch team.
"Oh yeah. That looney girl who always hung around their locker room.”
Eshne laughed, “We laughed our heads off when we found out she just wanted to ride his broom!”
“Wow! You personally know her?” Jessica asked.
Esh nodded, “I think I was one of the few she would talk to.”
“You’ve got to introduce me!”
Esh said. “Easy, tiger. She probably doesn’t remember me.”
Erica chuckled, Yea, you’re not a Firebolt.”
Jessica asked, “Pleeeaaassseee?”
Esh sighed, “We’ll see.”
The day of the race came and the crowds were thick. There were far more people than expected. The event staff and Law Enforcement Department had to use extra security to ward off muggles.
Esh, Erica and Jessica made their way through the crowds til they got to the starting area, where they found the Lavender Lightning surrounded by fans and press hounding her for interviews.
Esh push through the crowd and pulled her sisters along. She got to the front of the circle and found the Lavender Lightning dressed in her typical racing dress, royal purple. Esh shouted, “ Hey Raven! Raven! Over here!”
The Lightning turned and saw who was calling her. “Esh? Eshne!” She hurried over to Esh and threw her arms around Esh’s neck. “How are you? I haven’t seen you in…”
Esh answered, “A while.”
Raven smiled, “Right, a while. What are you doing here?
Esh answered, “I live here. You still living and racing in the deserts?
Raven nodded, “I loved the silence of the desert.” Raven asked, “Who’s the cutey about to explode behind you?”
“My little sister. She’s a big fan.” She indicated Raven and then Jessica and Erica. “Raven Nightwing, Jessica and Erica Wildfyre.”
Raven shook their hands and greeted them just as one of the race officials boomed, “Riders to you brooms!”
Raven hurried off, “Race Time!”
Raven lined up with the other racers and suddenly called out, “Wait! My lucky charm is gone! I can’t race without it!” The head of the Haunted Hollows Grand Prix replied, “You have five minutes to find it. The race will start at the stroke of midnight with or without you.”
Raven looked imploringly at Esh, “Help me find my lucky charm!”
Jessica jumped forward, “Sure! What is it?”
Raven replied, “A short tube about the size of your pinky finger. I carry a bit of my first racing broom in it. It tends to hide in trees when it gets away Please hurry!”
After the race, which Raven won by 8 broom lengths, one of the gathered reporters asked, “Why do you race alone in the desert?”
Raven smiled and asked, “Have you ever flown at night in the desert?” The reporter shook her head. Raven seemed to lose her concentration as she leaned her head back and shook her hair before answering. "Imagine this - On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair. Warm smell of colitis rising up through the air. Ah, there’s nothing like it.”
Erica nudged her sister, “Told you. She’s loony.”
