A Birthday Bike

The New Blue One

A Birthday Bike

It was only for a day. That's all I was going to use it. I would get it back where it belonged before anyone missed it.

Yea, that is what I told myself when I "borrowed" my friend's bicycle. He would be gone over the weekend and never miss it. I am always a careful rider, and I only needed the bike to go over to another friend's house for his birthday party.

Unfortunately, my bicycle had a flat tire. They do that at times; they get flat tires.

My bike had had several during the past month, and I had used up all the glue to put patches over the holes.

I had already spent my monthly allowance, so I needed the $2.39 for a new tire patch kit. I would get my next month's allowance the next day, and Mom said I could go with her; then we would stop at the hardware store, and I could buy the tire patching kit with some of my money.

My friend, Steve, who owns the bicycle, lives just next door and always takes good care of his bike. He always puts it in the shed at the back of their house. So it is out of sight of anyone walking on the street who might want to take someone's bicycle.

This was the birthday present he got last month for his 12th birthday. He really liked how it rode and how good the brakes were. It was, of course, his favorite color: blue with streaks of white that looked like lightning. The one thing he especially liked was the chrome fenders on the front and the back of it. He says it keeps him dry when he rides through puddles of water. I am thankful it had such good fenders because it might rain, and I wanted to keep my new jeans dry while going to the party.

Mom had just finished helping me get Gary's birthday present wrapped, so I was ready to go. I was excited as I waved goodbye to Mom and went out the front door.

As I slipped out the door, I told myself again it would only be for a day that I would be using it, and I proceeded to go to Steve's shed in the back of his house to get his bicycle.

Steve's bike was a bit larger than I was used to riding, so it took me about two blocks to get the feel of it. I also liked the way it rode. After about the fourth block, I was whizzing along. I felt comfortable riding Steve's bike.

Soon, I would be at the party.

As I neared Gary's house, I became more excited and was not as careful with his birthday present as I had been.

When I pulled full speed into his yard, I hit a bump, which caused me to drop the gift. It fell right into the spokes of the front wheel.

I hadn't stopped yet as I was unfamiliar with the brakes on Steve's bike, and as the wheels were still turning, the present got shoved up under the chrome fender.

The gift was smashed to pieces, but I was horrified to see what had happened to the fender. It was really bent.

At that moment, all I wanted to do was ride it back home and get it back into Steve's shed.

Now, what would I say?

A Birthday Bike And A Lesson For Someone.

By Larry E. Whittington

11/06/14