Bicycle Magic

By T. J. Workman

This is a story about a bicycle that couldn’t ride itself. It was a beautiful red bicycle
with black trim and shiny silver handlebars. His name was Rider. Rider was built
by a kind old bicycle mechanic who put him together with loving care and sold him
at the “Big Store.” His gears were strong and ready to take Rider as fast as he could
go. Rider was so excited for his first day on the showroom floor. He was
determined to ride himself around the store as soon as the customers had left for
the day. The time had come and Rider leaned himself away from the other bikes and
began to roll forward. He loved the feeling of his tires moving but he did not like the
feel of the hard floor racing toward him as he crashed. Perhaps it was a mistake or
his wheel slipped on the slick cement floor. He tried again and only two inches later
he again saw the cold floor racing toward his face. With bent handlebars and a
frown on his seat, he realized he couldn’t ride himself. He began to cry. In the
corner of the old store, there sat an old worn out bicycle with rust on its fender and
a chain that was disconnected and lying on the floor. The old cruiser coughed and
sputtered and whispered to Rider, “don’t you know the secret?” Rider turned to face
the old bike and asked, “What did you say?” The old bicycle coughed as though he
was cleaning his gears of twenty years of dust and dirt. “Don’t you know the secret
to riding a bicycle,” he asked with a throaty rasp. Rider was shocked at the question
and wasn’t sure how to answer. “What is the secret,” he asked with anticipation.
Rider leaned in to hear the answer as the old cruiser again coughed the dust from
his frame. “Bicycles need a special super power to help them ride,” the cruiser was
struggling to speak through the dust as it fell of his handlebars. “What do you
mean,” Rider replied. “What is the name of this super power that will help me ride
myself?” The old bike used the wall to help him lean forward as he shared the secret
with Rider. “The super power comes from kids,” the cruiser said with a strain in his
voice. “Of course,” Rider exclaimed, “Kid power.” The old cruiser leaned back
against the wall to rest.
Rider woke up the next day with a determination to be his most shiny and
new. Many young boys looked at him but he was just too new and expensive for
anyone to buy. Many weeks went buy and Rider didn’t know if anyone would ever
buy him. One day a happy little boy walked into the store and ran toward Rider the
moment he saw him. “Please Mom,” the boy pleaded. “I have always wanted a bike
like that. Sadly, he was still too expensive for the mother to buy.