The Bicycle
On our
farm we had many crops.
There
was corn and hay and maise
...all
used to feed the cows and pigs,
chickens and turkeys that we also
raised.
In
addition, there were also the cash crops.
In the
summer, fruit, melons and honey.
In the
Fall, cotton, peanuts and pecans
...all
these to earn spending money.
Most of
the summer crops were
sold by
'peddling' on the square.
Not
everyone had the money to pay, so
Daddy
would make a trade that was fair.
Over
the years he brought home various
items...all of which proved
useful,
but one
day he brought home, of all things,
an
old,ugly, beat up, beautiful, bicycle!!
Now
with one bicycle and a house
full of
kids, we very soon learned
there
was only one way to be fair
...we'd
all just have to take turns.
Never
having had a bike before,
there
was no way I could ride it.
Nevertheless, I always took my turn,
even
if
all I
could do was walk along beside it!
This
went on for a week or two,
with me
"riding" hanging onto the fence.
One day Daddy, seeing my dilemma, grabbed
the
seat, gave me a push, and suddenly away I
went!
I had
been trying for weeks, it seemed,
to
learn how to ride that bike
...now
with Daddy's help, in about ten
seconds time, I could ride anywhere I
liked!
And I
did!!
Virginia Archer
