A good story with a slightly morbid ending.
When I was a kid, I was really into bikes. I think. I'm not sure actually. Maybe I just made that up for effect. Good way to start a story huh? With a potential lie. hahaha
Anyway, there was a bike shop on the side of the lake on the way to our family farm.
(the bike shop was on the back left corner of this lake... photo taken today)We'd would often take trips down there with my dad to feed the horses or attempt to catch a runaway cow.
Something tells me I wasn't much help in either of those scenarios. But I would go along for the family time.
Anyway, this bike shop was owned by a guy named Charlie. Thus "Charlie's Bike Shop".
It was a little store front with 3 big windows in the front. I don't remember Charlie much but I do remember the windows in the front. The coolest bikes were hanging up everywhere.
(This is Charlie's Bike Shop today.... the storefront space with the 3 big windows is still there on the right side of the photo but a house has been built onto the left side of it)One day, we went by and there it was. The bike I knew was perfect for me to learn on. It had a sparkling green body, a banana seat, high curled handle bars with irradescent streamers flowing from their ends. It was a dream. And I wasn't going to let anything stand in my way. (which the only thing that could have stood in my way was my dad simply saying "No". hahaha)
(This is the closest picture I could find to what it actually looked like... mine was much sweeter... honestly)So my birthday came around and there she was sitting in the front yard.
Beautiful.
Sun glinting off the sparkles that were set deep in the green paint.
Streamers blowing gently in the wind.
She was mine.
I remember how it was far too big for me and my dad knew it but still bought it because I really loved it. I had to climb up on the picnic table to get on the seat. Once I was on it, I would ride proudly for a few seconds and then fall down. Over the course of my birthday party, I learned to stay up on it while my friends ran around having fun.
I'll never forget 2 other things from that day.
#1- My dad was spinning a bunch of kids on our giant tire swing. Spinning them into a circle making the rope real tight and twisted. Then he would let the rope go and it would unspin causing the tire to spin extremely fast. Kids would scream and their heads would be floppin from side to side with dizziness when they got off but they all loved it.
Then Matt puked everywhere.
#2- We had a border collie named Samson. He had his little "pen" area right in the front yard by the door to the house. He was a gentle dog and resembled Lassie quite a bit.
A bunch of kids were running around chasing each other on the outer bit of where his leash would let him go. He playfully ran up behind then, reared up on his back legs, and came crashing down on the smallest boy there; Benjamin.
Samson pinned him to the ground and started humping him viciously. I'll never forget how he screamed like a little girl and cried for us to get the dog off of him. But we all stood around laughing in hysterics.
Samson drooling and humping wildly.
Benjamin clutching at the ground, screaming, and whaling tears.
In hind sight, maybe that was a mean thing to do. Maybe a traumatic moment for a young boy. Being humped by a dog in front of all your friends at a birthday party.
Jeez.
Glad it wasn't me.
Anyway, years later Charlie would actually hang himself in that same front window where the bike of my dreams once hung.
I don't exactly remember the story but I am sure it had to do with a lot of heartache and/or his wife leaving him.
I would like to dedicate this post to:
Charlie of Charlie's Bikes, Benjamin L, Samson, and my beautiful green bike.
May you all rest in peace.
*But not you Benjamin. I am nearly certain you are still alive. So instead of rest in peace.... uh... may you rest well tonight ???
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