This is a new short story I recently wrote titled The New Mayor. It’s a story about Denver, set 10 years in the future. I had submitted this to a local contest, but it did not win. It’s a great story, and I wanted to share it with all my fans who have enjoyed my debut novel Lie with the Devil and have supported me by buying the book and spreading the word to other readers. 

I don’t want to give away the twist ending, but see if you can figure out who The New Mayor is? Even though it is fiction, it could one day become real, especially if you love car racing. Clue: John Elway, Kevin Spacey, Daniel Radcliffe, even Paris Hilton are all mentioned in the story. This is the first time I have posted one of my short stories.  Enjoy!

                        The New Mayor

                                                         

“The year is 2018, the city, Denver, and The New Mayor will be presiding as Grand Marshall for the Grand Prix of Denver. The highly anticipated, highly televised racing event will take place at the Denver Motor Speedway that was built last year. Over seventy thousand fans are expected to turn out for this spectacular sporting event. Several celebrities are also expected to attend this year. Among the top three drivers in contention for the championship are seasoned racers Marco Andretti, A.J. Foyt IV, and Graham Rahal. It has been over ten years since there has been a Grand Prix of Denver, a race that once took place on the streets around the Pepsi center. Everyone can thank the new Mayor for bringing racing back to Denver. Since he took office two years ago, Denver has flourished with tourism, prospered with thousands of new jobs, and has become one of the largest cities in the U.S.”

            Julie put down her tape recorder, and took a look around the Denver Motor Speedway. It had been ten years since she was last in Denver. So much had changed since she was last here. She hardly recognized the place anymore. Being away on assignments covering different sporting events for Sports Illustrated, Julie missed home.

            Diego, Julie’s photographer sat down beside her.

            “How’s it going with the feature?”

            “I just need a main focus for the story. I just can’t believe how much Denver has changed in the last ten years since I’ve been here.”

            “I know.”

            Julie and Diego walked around, taking in the beautiful view.

            “Can you believe five years ago Pat Bowlen sold the Denver Broncos to John Elway, and now they are the reigning Super Bowl Champions, and Elway’s son is the starting quarterback.”

            “I can’t believe that Larimer Street is now being called the new Broadway, or even the new West End,” Diego commented.”

            “I know,” Julie concurred. “Ever since Kevin Spacey took interest in Denver and opened the Larimer Street Theatre and became the artistic director like he did in London for the Old Vic, the theatre district in Denver has thrived with the new location. He brought with him British actors like Jude Law and Ralph Fiennes to star in his productions. People are actually coming here instead of New York to see plays.”

            “It’s amazing, especially at night with all the lights on Larimer Street, and all the rows of theatres and the new restaurants and clubs.”

“I heard even Paris Hilton was spotted at one of the clubs. The paparazzi were stationed outside the building till two in the morning to get a picture. You weren’t one of them, were you Diego,” Julie laughed.”

            “No,” Diego replied.

            “And what about the double-decker buses, with all the traffic delays on the new freeways they’re building here, more and more people are taking the bus and the new underground.”

            “Can you believe Denver has an underground. Commuters from Colorado Springs and even Pueblo can take the underground into Denver for work.”

            “They never had that type of transit system ten years ago when I lived here. All they had was light rail.”

            “Light rail,” Diego snickered. “Do they still even use that?”

            “I don’t think so, not for a long time. Ever since the new Mayor took office, he brought in the underground and people love it.”

            “I wonder when the new Mayor is going to get here, he should have been here by now?” Diego commented, as both he and Julie looked around the track.

 

The traffic on the freeway was jammed packed, as the driver weaved in and out of cars, and then finally existed I-35 South. He looked at the clock, noticing the time, and then he looked back at his passenger who was relaxing in his seat reading a book.

            “Sir, you might want to call ahead, I think we’re going to be late. This traffic, it’s horrible, I’m barely moving,” Marcus told the new Mayor.

            The new Mayor looked at his watch, then at the driver.

            “How far away are we Marcus?”

            “You would probably get there faster if you walked,” Marcus replied.

            “We still have time, I was just finishing this chapter. I can’t put it down.”

            “What book are you reading sir?”

            “Lie with the Devil.”

            “Isn’t it on the New York Times best seller list.”

            “Yes, it’s a wonderful book.”

            “Aren’t they making it into a movie. Isn’t that actor from Harry Potter, the one

who’s all grown up now, what’s his name, Daniel Radcliffe, isn’t he going to be playing the lead in the film?”

            “I think so, you watch more movies than I do Marcus.”

            They both laughed, knowing the new Mayor watched sports more than anything. Marcus put the car in park, the lane was at a halt, no cars were moving.

            “Sir I don’t think we’re going to make it.”

            The new Mayor looked out the window, looking up ahead, seeing the traffic jam.

            “I think you’re right Marcus, as usual, you always know what’s best.”

            “Do you want me to come with you?”

            “No, I’ve done this before.”

            “You’re not going to do, what I think you’re going to do, are you sir?” Marcus asked.

            The new Mayor smiled and grabbed his book, placing it under his arm, tucking it in close to his body like a football, and then he got out of the car and took off running down the street. He weaved in and out of cars, passing by people on the sidewalk as if he was racing down a football field heading towards the end zone. The people were blockers, as he maneuvered right and left, dogging the obstacles, keeping hold of the book.

Marcus watched the new Mayor run down the street, and it reminded him of old football footage, as the new Mayor’s Super Bowl rings tightened on his fingers. A car pulled out in front of him, and he rolled across the hood. Unfazed, barely breaking a sweat, his grip tightened around the book, and he continued running towards the media entrance of the Denver Motor Speedway.

People stopped and watched as the new Mayor of Denver sprinted down the street. Cameras and cell phones snapped picture after picture, as a large crowd formed behind him. Fans started to cheer, as they chanted his name. Drivers rolled down their windows, honking their horns, as the new Mayor heard the cheers and persevered forward, gaining in speed.

The commotion started to get louder, as Julie and Diego turned around and watched the new Mayor flash his credentials at the guards who knew him by his famous face, and escorted him onto the middle of the track. With only a few seconds before the broadcast went live, the new Mayor, who was hardly out of breath, staying in great shape for his age, looked down at the book that was still under his arm. He felt like spiking the book, as if it was a football and he had made the winning touchdown, arriving just in time.

            “And here to present those famous words in racing, who brought back this great event to Denver, today’s Grand Marshall of the Grand Prix of Denver, and the owner of the Denver Broncos… two time Super Bowl Champion… Mayor John Elway!”

            The massive crowd cheered loudly with enthusiasm for Mayor John Elway, as he took the microphone from the man, and looked out among the rows and rows of happy racing fans.

            “Gentleman, start… your… engines!” Mayor John Elway shouted, and the crowd erupted with applause.

            “Mayor John Elway,” Julie remarked, “I always knew he would become Mayor of Denver one day. It seemed destined. The people here love him. He’s a celebrity, like Leonardo DiCaprio is in Hollywood.”

            Julie smiled, knowing now what the main focus was going to be for her story, as Diego snapped a couple of pictures for the feature, and the new Mayor waved to the crowd, as the racecar drivers got ready to begin the Grand Prix of Denver.

               

             

Comments Off