"Morning, champion."
My son crossed his arms.
"You're late!"
Wade looked at the clock.
"One minute."
Eli nodded sternly.
"That's very late."
The biker sighed.
"You're right. Completely unacceptable."
My son began giggling.
Wade stepped inside, cleaned his hands according to the hospital's requirements, and approached the bed.
"I'm sorry I missed a few races, buddy."
Eli studied him.
"Are you okay?"
The biker's smile softened.
"Working on it."
My son nodded as though that were a perfectly reasonable answer.
Then he pointed toward the track.
"We saved you a spot."
Wade looked at the empty place.
For a moment, his expression changed.
I watched him carefully.
He reached into his vest.
His enormous hand emerged holding a little red toy car.
The same one I had seen in the courtyard.
Its paint was chipped.
One wheel was crooked.
And its small body looked almost lost against his tattooed palm.
Wade stared at it for several seconds.
Then he looked at Eli.
"Would you mind if I brought somebody special into today's race?"
My son leaned forward.
"Who?"
The biker opened his hand.
"This little car."
Eli gasped.
"Red!"
Wade smiled.
"Yep."
My son pointed toward the empty spot.
"Put it there."
The biker hesitated.
Then he carefully placed the red car beside the blue one.
Eli examined it.
"It's old."
Wade laughed softly.
"Sure is."
"Did you race it a lot?"
The biker looked down.
"Somebody did."
My son picked up the red car with gentle fingers.
"What's its name?"
Wade went completely still.
I watched his throat move as he swallowed.
Then he whispered, "Lily."
Eli looked up.
"Lily?"
The biker nodded.
"That was my daughter's name."
My son considered the information.
"Your daughter?"
"Yeah, buddy."
"Does she like racing?"
Wade's eyes filled.
"She loved it."
Eli smiled.
"Then Lily can race with us."
The room became very quiet.
Wade stared at my son.
For a moment, he looked as though he had forgotten how to breathe.
Eli placed the red car at the starting line.
He moved the blue car beside it.
Then he looked toward Wade.
"Ready?"
The biker lowered himself onto the floor.
His knees cracked.
Eli laughed.
Wade tried to smile.
"Ready, champion."
My son lifted his fingers.
"Three."
Wade looked at the little red car.
"Two."
A tear slipped down the biker's cheek.
"One."
Eli grinned.
"GO!"
The cars rolled across the wooden track.
Eli cheered.
The blue car crossed the finish line first.
But the little red one came close behind.
My son clapped.
"Blue wins!"
Wade laughed through tears.
"Looks that way."