Several weeks ago someone donated us a small very used bike. No shinny paint job, just the essentials; seat, handle-bars, two wheels and peddles. It had been sitting in our shed for a while. (Thanks to whoever donated it!)
I looked at it lying there and decided to load it with the rest of the stuff in the back of my SUV. It sat proudly on top of all the other stuff.
Yep, this bike needed a home.
As I got near to one of our locations; driving slowly along the dirt road; a load of kids spotted my car and started running toward me surrounding the car. Dirty, dusty, barefoot kids all with wide smiles.
Excitement! Energy! Hey, what's the big deal? ... just an old man and his car.
I always carry a sack of miniature chocolates and they know it ... now when I open the back of my SUV it's like a combined toy-store and supermarket.
They instantly survey everything!
One boy spotted the bike! Literally jumping up and down. "Hey von, can I have the bike? Can I? My brother and I will share it. Can we have the bike?"
Well, I'll make the story short. They got the bike, and were they two happy little dudes.
It didn't matter that bike was old and used; it was theirs now. Now they had a real bike!
I guess, the bike had them.
As I got into the car to leave, the oldest boy, on his new bike
Skidded to a stop by my window and flashed me a big smile ... thank you von.
I took this shot several days later ... the kids were clean and in their school clothes ... I just wanted to show you that smile, it's still there.
