Scooters, Bikes, and Wagons
Here's another story from my old blog, BLESSED Journal. Since I've retired that blog, I wanted to share a few of the great stories there with my BLESSED readers. Hope you enjoy it!
Long after Christmas trees were thrown into the local ponds for fish nesting, Miles still rode his new chrome scooter up and down the steep driveway with his friends. The new toy temporarily made Miles a celebrity in the neighborhood, being the first kid on the block to have this particular type of two-wheeler. The bicycle was a close second, since it would take him around the block and over to his friends houses quickly.
Demolition Derby. What started as several of the second graders dragging one another around by tying a strap to the red wagon and pulling it with the bike, soon turned into “demolition derby” for them. Four little boys soon proved that no toy was sacred, and that “fun” outweighed safety and toy condition.
Jamie took the first turn. He pushed the bat-mobile up to the top of the forty-foot driveway, carefully aimed it at the bicycle and wagon below, and turned loose. Three seconds later, all four boys were on the ground rolling around and laughing. Fully expecting a fight or angry outburst, Miles’s grandfather eased to the front door to offer salve to the wrecked kids. By the time he arrived, another boy, Alex, had taken his place at the top of the driveway, and M.J. was headed down into the pile of toys and boys.
Cuts, Bruises, and Injured Egos. For four hours, this process was repeated again and again. While several bruises and cuts were evident, and several egos were slightly injured, the four boys discovered something about themselves that no adult understands. What they use their toys for may not be what the manufacturer intended, and a toy purchased for a much younger, or older, boy, can be altered and used for something much more fun.
A red wagon became a battering ram. An old tricycle evolved into a race car that would turn over and roll after colliding with a bicycle at the bottom of a hill. And a stack of boards, that were intended to be used as a “jumping ramp” for the bikes, was quickly converted to a target for a runaway car. Over and over again, the boards were stacked, the wagon mounted, and down the hill the tricycle went, scattering everything and everyone into the street.
End of an Era. When darkness came, and the streetlights came on, each of the boys retreated to the warmth of their homes. The encounter they had would not be repeated again in the same way. The next week, Jamie’s house had a rented U-Haul van in the driveway, and he was off to Dallas with his parents to seek a new life. Then the following week, M.J. was gone. While several witnessed the moving truck at his house, M.J. never told anyone about moving away. Miles even found his scooter parked in the grass outside his empty house the next week. It seemed so strange that M.J. would move away and leave his beloved scooter.
Today, it was just Alex and Miles on the scooters in the street. A fear of bad weather sent both boys scurrying into their homes, since a tornado watch had been issued. The truth was, it wasn’t as much fun as before. Some other storms had taken M.J. and Jamie away, and wherever they were now, at least they weren’t afraid of the tornado.
Scooters, bikes, and wagons. Such is the day of four little boys playing in the street on a cool winter day before life delivers its losses and gains. And before the toys are rusted and gone. And before everyone moves away.
© 2009 Jordan Family All Rights Reserved
Photo/JordanFamily
Did this story bring back any childhood memories for you?
Long after Christmas trees were thrown into the local ponds for fish nesting, Miles still rode his new chrome scooter up and down the steep driveway with his friends. The new toy temporarily made Miles a celebrity in the neighborhood, being the first kid on the block to have this particular type of two-wheeler. The bicycle was a close second, since it would take him around the block and over to his friends houses quickly. Demolition Derby. What started as several of the second graders dragging one another around by tying a strap to the red wagon and pulling it with the bike, soon turned into “demolition derby” for them. Four little boys soon proved that no toy was sacred, and that “fun” outweighed safety and toy condition.
Jamie took the first turn. He pushed the bat-mobile up to the top of the forty-foot driveway, carefully aimed it at the bicycle and wagon below, and turned loose. Three seconds later, all four boys were on the ground rolling around and laughing. Fully expecting a fight or angry outburst, Miles’s grandfather eased to the front door to offer salve to the wrecked kids. By the time he arrived, another boy, Alex, had taken his place at the top of the driveway, and M.J. was headed down into the pile of toys and boys.
Cuts, Bruises, and Injured Egos. For four hours, this process was repeated again and again. While several bruises and cuts were evident, and several egos were slightly injured, the four boys discovered something about themselves that no adult understands. What they use their toys for may not be what the manufacturer intended, and a toy purchased for a much younger, or older, boy, can be altered and used for something much more fun.
A red wagon became a battering ram. An old tricycle evolved into a race car that would turn over and roll after colliding with a bicycle at the bottom of a hill. And a stack of boards, that were intended to be used as a “jumping ramp” for the bikes, was quickly converted to a target for a runaway car. Over and over again, the boards were stacked, the wagon mounted, and down the hill the tricycle went, scattering everything and everyone into the street.
End of an Era. When darkness came, and the streetlights came on, each of the boys retreated to the warmth of their homes. The encounter they had would not be repeated again in the same way. The next week, Jamie’s house had a rented U-Haul van in the driveway, and he was off to Dallas with his parents to seek a new life. Then the following week, M.J. was gone. While several witnessed the moving truck at his house, M.J. never told anyone about moving away. Miles even found his scooter parked in the grass outside his empty house the next week. It seemed so strange that M.J. would move away and leave his beloved scooter.
Today, it was just Alex and Miles on the scooters in the street. A fear of bad weather sent both boys scurrying into their homes, since a tornado watch had been issued. The truth was, it wasn’t as much fun as before. Some other storms had taken M.J. and Jamie away, and wherever they were now, at least they weren’t afraid of the tornado.
Scooters, bikes, and wagons. Such is the day of four little boys playing in the street on a cool winter day before life delivers its losses and gains. And before the toys are rusted and gone. And before everyone moves away.
© 2009 Jordan Family All Rights Reserved
Photo/JordanFamily
Did this story bring back any childhood memories for you?
Posted by Karen Jordan at 13 Jul 2011 
Categories: Building Legacies, Blessed, Encouraging Spiritual Stories
Tags: children education fun friends outdoors remembering writing prompt
Categories: Building Legacies, Blessed, Encouraging Spiritual Stories
Tags: children education fun friends outdoors remembering writing prompt
What a good read Karen. Though, I was sad at the end...it's never easy when our friends, or loved ones move away...change is sometimes very hard.
Reply to this
Thanks, Klansee! Change is always hard for me, especially when it means losing a friend or loved one. Btw, I can't take credit for this one--the incognito writer (in my household) wrote it!
Reply to this