The Bicycle

After a bitter argument with his father, Louie storms out of the
house. He rides his bicycle--pedaling forward into an uncertain future
with great courage.

The Bicycle

by

Kathryn J. Gabrielle

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I would like to dedicate this story to my Louie on the occasion of
his
20th birthday, June 6,1984 , forty years after D-Day. A wonderful
son
and a remarkable young man. I love you!

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Louie is a handsome boy of eighteen. His Italian dark hair and
eyes
reflect his sensitive nature. An actor at heart, he finds life's
crosses difficult to overcome until one day, he receives a gift
from
his Dad that gives him the freedom he longs for--a blue bicycle.

It is a beautiful machine. The blue chrome color shines brightly in
the
afternoon sun. He glides his hand over his prize bicycle and takes
a
deep breath. A natural curiousity calls him to explore the world
around
him. When he gets on the bicycle, he sometimes he loses track of
time
and he rides any place to meet his friends. It doesn't really
matter.
Both his bicycle and feet are in sync to take him to places he wants
to
be. Today, he pedals down the steep hill as the wheels spin faster
and
faster. He can barely steer the handle bars or keep his balance, but
as
he races through the city streets on his blue bicycle, Louie
feels
free. He tries to learn how to drive, but he just can't get over
the
fear of being behind the wheel of a car. Somehow he doesn't feel
the
same fear when he is riding his bicycle. It is just a simple
machine
that frees his spirit for adventure.

He still remembers the day that his Dad gave him the bicycle. He
was
just sixteen years old and trying to practice driving for his
permit,
but he was too afraid to take the next step to get his driver's
license. As he pedals, it didn't seem to matter that he was
without
that little piece of paper that says he is a licensed driver.
Nothing
matters except the freedom of being out of the house and away from
his
father. He doesn't want to be around him anymore. Things are
getting
too heated and there is no discussion for Louie. He is always
proved
wrong and it always ends with a fight. So why bother? He would
rather
avoid his Dad any way he could. And today, he was having fun, so
why
spoil it by worrying about things he had no control over.

He wonders why his Dad blows up at him while his brother and sister
have
no problems at all. It isn't like he is a lot of trouble to have
around. Louie believes he is fairly easy to get along with. He
doesn't
ask for much. He may think some of his Dad's ideas about being a
good
son are way out there, but he listens and tries to abide by his
father's rules . His natural tenacity brings the two to clash on
more
than one occasion. One such occasion is the missing money argument.
and
on that day, Louie's blue bicycle is by far the perfect means for
forgetting about Dad and his persistent accusations over trivial
stuff.
Money is something Louie never had a lot of, even when he did
work
extra overtime at the video store. To even think that his Dad would
try
to accuse him of stealing money is ridiculous.

"Louie, did you take my two hundred dollars? I had it inside my
checkbook and now it is gone. Your brother and sister claim you
took
it."

"No, Dad. I swear I didn't touch it!", Louie said throwing his hands
up
in the air and pacing back and forth. "Why do you always believe
them
and not me? Are they so innocent?" He looks out the window and
notices
the kids playing soccer in the street. He wishes he could be
anywhere
but here facing his father's accusations.

"If you are lying to me, I will throw your stuff out on the street.
I
should be able to put my money down on my dresser and not have to
worry
about it being stolen. Why can't I trust you Louie?"

"What are you talking about Dad? Trust me? I haven't even done
anything.
What are you accusing me of? Stealing your money? Come on! Search
me.
What would I want with your money? I work for a living. I ride my
bike

to work each morning at that crummy dead end job at the video
store,
but I make my own money! Who are you to accuse me of stealing? If
you
are so worried about your money, hide it somewhere where it cannot
be
found!"

"I know you have my money. Just tell me the truth, dammit. You have
it!"

"No. Dad. You are dead wrong about me. Why don't you ask Danny or
Christine? Maybe they have your magical money."

"Get out of my way. I'll find it in your room if I have to tear
it
apart!", Lou says as he rips out a drawer and tosses out the
clothes
angrily. "My money has to be in here someplace. Come on, tell me
the
truth!"

"Are you deaf, Dad? I said I didn't take it. How do you expect to
find
something that isn't there? Are you a magician or something. I'm out
of
here. I have to go to work."

"How are you getting there? I'm not going to drive you."

"I will take my bicycle. I learned not to depend on you a long time
ago
Dad. You with all your hobbies and friends never wanting to spend
a
single minute with me. I never did anything to you but love you Dad.
I
won't ever forget this moment. I won't ever forgive you."

"Louie?"

Louie slams the door, opens the garage and gets out his blue bicycle.
It
is the only thing in the world that he owns. Even the clothes on
his
back are not his, but he has a strong will and his bicycle. He gets
on
his bicycle and starts to pedal. It is the greatest feeling to be
free
and away from his Dad. Even going to his crummy job is better
than
spending time at home. Home used to be fun with Danny and Christine
but
lately they are making his life just as unbearable as Dad is. They
only
want to start fights with him and find any way to get him in
trouble.
So why bother?

He speeds through the intersection and maneuvers his bicycle
through
traffic. He even thinks of skipping work and letting his feet pedal
him
to another city, another life. Reaching for his back pocket, he
remembers that he only has a twenty-dollar bill in his wallet. Might
as
well forget that pipe dream. I guess I have to go to work or wait I
hit
the lottery to get a life. He approaches the shopping mall and
the
video store is in sight. Louie grinds his teeth to prepare for
another
awful eight hours of customer service fun. I really hate this job,
but
what else can I do? I don't really know how to do anything. I'm a
kid,
why do I have to go through this crap?

Just at that moment, Louie notices his Dad's car driving into the
parking lot of the video store. His Dad gets out of the car and
Louie
knows what is going to happen next. He clenches his teeth and waits
for
the inevitable.

"Louie! I am not through talking to you. I will finish this
discussion
if I have to follow you all over the city! Where is my money? I
know
you are lying to me. Give me my money, now!!"

"Dad, for the last time, I didn't take one penny from you. You have
to
take my word on this. I do not know what happened to your two
hundred
dollars. If you cannot trust me, I am out of your house. I can't
believe you follow me around trying to terrorize me over money.",
Louie
stood right at this father facing him eye to eye. "Look at me,
Dad.
Really look at me. I tried to be a good son. I asked you to do
stuff
with me and you always blew me off. You wanted to do stuff with
your
own friends. I gave you every chance to be my father and you ignore
me
at every turn. Now, the first time that something is missing, you
accuse me. I don't want a thing from you now or ever! I'm through
with
you, Dad. You can keep your money. You can keep your friends, but
you
will never have your son back again!", Louie spat these words at
his
father with fierce determination. Tears ran down his cheeks as he
utters these words, but he wipes them away.

"Louie, I know you took the money. I will find out one way or
another.
You are no longer welcome in my home!", his Dad spat back at Louie.
His
Dad turns around sharply and walks back to his car and races out of
the
parking lot, screeching his wheels in protest.

Louie can't believe what just came out of his Dad's mouth. "Is
that
really my Dad? Who is that stranger that just talked to me? I
don't
know him.", Louie whispers as he looks up at Heaven. "Money,
money,
money. It makes the world go around. I hope he chokes on it!",
Louie
takes his hand and shines up his blue bicycle, determined not to
be
sorry for being who he is.

Why can't a father just be one and not a stranger to me?

That is a question that Louie asks himself every day as he
pedaled
around the city. He tried to ask his Dad that question once or
twice,
but he was always blown off or ignored. No wonder he left home
and
never turned back. He wanted to come back home a few times, but
the
memory of his Dad and the never ending bickering stopped him
stone
cold.

"I could have loved you Dad, but you never gave me a chance. Money
isn't
everything. It is just pieces of paper. I didn't take your lousy
money!" , Louie put his face in his hands and sobbed as he sat on
the
sidewalk by the video store. He didn't go to work that day. He
didn't
care anymore. He just got right back on his bicycle and pedaled
into
the night. "I won't ever forget what you did to me, Dad. I swear I
will
be a better man than you ever could be!"

Placing moneybefore love is always a mistake and to value a son is
worth
everything a father has in this world. Tears fall and words get lost
in
the winds of time. I was caught in the middle of a violent storm
of
words and emotions. He is more to me than words can say. His bicycle
is
a symbol of his determination to strike out on his own. Louie
moved
forward in courage and every day is a struggle. A family trying to
heal
a hurt over a silly quarrel. Where is it said that forgiveness
needs
time. Forgive today.

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