I was walking to the local supermarket along the busy road near my old house and looking at the palm trees that dotted the long traffic island park that let me imagine I was walking to the local supermarket some place in California when I noticed a guy riding his bike towards me.
This guy was some way off yet. I noticed him because he was big; a really muscly, buff guy riding a bike that would have looked tough on a smaller man but that he made look fragile. He had chocolate skin and thick dreadlocks tied back in a bun. I could see the tendons on his forearms tensing even from a hundred metres away.
As this guy rode towards me he was singing. But rather than a song it was just sound effects. A sort of wooshing, and yelping, and wheeing. it went like this:
"WHEEEEEEEE! YAAAAAAAAAY! WWWWOOOOOOOOOOO! YIPEEEEEEE! HERE WE GO! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
He had a high pitched soft voice and as I got closer I saw a huge smile on his face. I nearly broke into laughter. This great big tough looking guy riding his bike and singing to himself like a little kid. It was wonderful, and hilarious. I couldn't wait to get home and tell my lovely other. I just didn't get it... it wasn't what I was expecting.
Then he got closer, and closer still, until I stepped off the footpath to let him past. And as I did I noticed something magical. A little baby girl, tiny and soft and full of giggles sitting in her little bike chair, hidden from the front, singing along with her dad.
It made my day.
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And your telling of this magic just made mine. What a lovely, tender moment and how lucky for you to have witnessed it. And how lucky for me to read about it. You write beautifully, and I feel honoured to have met you on the ground floor. Welcome to the Blogosphere!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your lovely comment Hilary. It really means a lot to get positive feedback. I'm very excited to have found your blog and to be entering into this welcoming and interesting community.
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