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The Story · Childhood

A running start.

Childhood · Kathy’s bicycle

Young AJ stands beside his sister Kathy’s bicycle outside the house.
My sister’s bicycle and me. Starting was only part of the problem.

My first solo 2-wheel bicycle ride was on this bicycle. It was Kathleen Cole Thurston’s.

I couldn’t get on it and start peddling without falling over. So I took it to the top of the Oakley’s driveway to get a running start.

Everything was fine until I got to the end of the driveway.

I hadn’t yet learned how to steer a two-wheeler.

I didn’t know how to stop it, either.

Rammed headfirst into OldMan Wells’ pickup truck parked on the other side of the street.

Nice dent. Nice mangled front wheel on the bicycle.

I put it back in the yard where I had got it from.

OldMan Wells came out and asked if I was okay. Never complained about the dent in his truck. Never told on me.

Kathy never knew what happened to her bicycle until I finally told her the story just a few years ago.