Taking Risks...

“Go ahead.” She said, “We have plenty of time.”

“Naw…I really shouldn’t.”

But I really wanted to. Everyday, at lunch, I stood
out here smoking and pretending not to look at it.
It’s a little Rebel. A chick bike and I covet it
desperately.

“I trust you. Here…”

She tosses me the keys and I immediately drop them.
She laughs when I bend down to pick them up and
nervously bobble them twice before I manage to grasp
them in my shaking fingers. Before I can change my
mind, I swing my leg up and over and settle onto the
seat. This is perfect, this tiny little bike to fit my
petite frame. We were made for each other I am sure.
There is no need to tip toe or strain as I back slowly
out of the parking space. When I turn the key, my
heart roars with the engine and I come alive with the
sound. As I maneuver carefully out of the lot, I pass
my own crappy car. I stick out my tongue at it. I
believe it is jealous. Almost drunk with excitement, I
grind my teeth at the light before I can finally
signal and turn onto open road. I’m free. Second gear,
then third, the wind shuts out the oppressive sounds
of life and buffets my helmet with a kind of mindless
peace. I’m alone and I’m flying. All clear so I pass a
red car, then a truck before I open it up on the now
empty highway. I squint my eyes against the rush of
happiness, oblivious to all but the road ahead. We
develop a slight shimmy and I realize that freedom
does have a limit after all so I throttle down slowly
to a more reasonable speed. I exhale heavily and only
then do know I have been holding my breath. I laugh
out loud and come back to myself. Lunchtime is almost
over.

A black truck tries to clip me as I swing back into
the lot but I just wiggle my rear end deftly out of
the way. Nice try. She is sitting on the curb smoking
her cigarette when I reluctantly drop the kick stand
and the chattering silence of life returns.

“So you want it?”

I am not ready to be separated from it yet so I cling
to the warm leather seat and stall by lighting my own
smoke. I love this bike.

“How much?” and I smile cause I already know it’s
mine.

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