My Ride on the Big Blue Bike
In the summer of 1970, after begging for weeks to visit my aunt and uncle, the day had finally arrived! It would be the time of my life.
My cousins were teenagers, and busy with activities of their own. It wasn't long before I began missing my little brothers - I missed having someone to play with. After telling my aunt that I wanted to go home, she said, "You can ride Pam's bike if you want to. Just stay on our street."
As I pulled the big bike out of the garage, a charge welled up inside me. I had never been on a bike like this one. As I climbed onto the big blue bike, I felt big too. I had to press one peddle at a time. As I, pressed one peddle down the other peddle came up, meeting my other foot. I rode to the end of the street and turned around at the Burger King. A funny thing happened after I turned around.
I looked down at the pavement and noticed that the road was moving underneath me just like it did when I looked down from our car. It was cool! Charmed by this, I started to peddle faster, increasing my speed. The attraction grew stronger, the harder I peddled, then suddenly, I experienced a new sensation! To my dismay, I had hit a parked car. Climbing down from the hood, feeling embarrassed, I began looking around hoping no one had witnessed, what I had done.
After climbing back onto the big bike I began peddling very slowly, thinking that I needed to watch where I was going. My thoughts expanded to the idea of running into a moving vehicle. Determination to be careful, formed. Keeping my eyes on what was ahead I safely reached my aunt’s house and, headed back to the Burger King. As I peddled my mind stayed on the task, and passing by the car reminded me to pay attention.
Smooth going, I turned around at the Burger King and unknowingly, my eyes focused on the road once again. I began peddling faster until…Bang! I was climbing back down from that same-parked car, looking and hoping that no one had noticed. After picking Pam's bike up again, I began thinking in terms of "what if". "What if that car had been moving?" "What if I scratched their car?" "What if they were watching me?" Nearing my aunt’s house, I reminded myself that I needed to keep my eyes off the road and watch where I was going. I turned around and headed back to the Burger King, whistling as I rode along.
They say that the third time is the charm. I turned around at the Burger King and headed toward my destination. Now you may think that my destination was my aunt’s house, but clearly it was that parked car. Boom…I was once more clambering down from the hood, realizing that I had been gazing at the road underneath me!
Looking back, I chuckle every time I visualize the people who owned the car. Imagine the elderly character inside his house after he sees me climb down the first time, and then the second. I can almost hear the gentleman saying to his wife, Hey Judy, come watch this. Wait, wait…here she comes."
Sandra Hendricks
Give & Get
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