BIG WHEEL KEEPS ON TURNING

Billy and Danny were seven years old—only four days separated their birthdays. They lived next door to each other and were best of friends, as well as cousins. Their fathers were brothers; two years apart and only tolerated each other because of their wives who were not only sisters, but also twins and inseparable. 
The fathers, by circumstance, both worked selling insurance and ended up living close to each other because of their wives. They were very competitive whereas their sons and wives weren’t. So when Danny got a big wheel for his birthday Billy got one too, only a more expensive model, which he wasn’t appreciative of. He wanted the same model as Danny and his father was forced, once again into retreat mode and exchanged it.
The kids loved their big wheels and Billy’s father made a track in the back yard where they could race them. Danny’s father, not to be outdone made an obstacle course for the big wheels.
One Sunday, soon after both were built the boys were out in their backyards and the fathers on their decks ignoring each other.  Billy said to Danny, “C’mon, I’ll race you around the track.”  Danny said okay and yelled to his father to say go when they were set up. 
Danny’s father turned to his brother and said, “Five bucks on Danny.”
  “You’re on,” Said Billy’s father.
By the time Billy and Danny were in their teens they were no longer best friends but competitors for the sake of their father’s bets. Their one on one basketball games became vicious and their backyard wrestling matches usually ended up with something bloody or sprained. They competed for girls, grades and power but mostly to please their fathers.
The sister mother’s told their husbands that if they let the boys go through with drag racing they would leave them, but the lure of the competition between the brothers was too great.
At the funeral the sisters sat apart and haven’t spoken since, although they continued to live next door to each other. Neither brother wanted to be the first to move and lose another bet.