Episode 20: Bike Bus

On this clear Saturday morning, you are walking from your house to visit your new neighbors, who are moving in today a few doors down from you. As you approach their house, with a few stray bookcases standing in the yard, you remember back to when Grace first visited you, only five months ago.

You pause for a moment to look down at the casserole pan and bouquet of flowers in your own hands, and you feel grateful once again that you have found your home in Neighborful Station. You listen to the wind scattering the poplar leaves down the sidewalk ahead of you. The butcher paper wrapping of the flower bouquet adds to the song of the leaves, crinkling in your hand as you hold the bouquet up to your nose. You take in the scent of the dahlias with a deep breath.

You make your way up to your new neighbors’ porch, and you see them rushing about the house, directing the movers. You knock on the frame of the front door, which is propped open, and all activity stops for a moment as everyone looks your way.

You say, “Hello and welcome! I’m one of your new neighbors, and I brought you some dinner for tonight. I hope you don’t mind.”

In the living room, there are two adults and a child, who looks to be middle school age. His parents both turn toward you and smile tentatively, placing their right hands over their hearts. Their son disappears up the stairs.

“Thank you so much,” the woman says. “My name is Fatima. This is very kind of you.”

“We are happy to meet you,” the man adds. “My name is Ajmal. Please, please, will you come inside a moment? I wish we could offer you some tea.”

You reply, “Yes, I will come in, thank you,” and you step in the door. Holding out your armload of gifts, you say, “We can have tea another day. For now, this is a broccoli cheddar rice casserole, from my Mom’s recipe. And these dahlias are from the greenhouses down the way.”

Fatima crosses the room to meet you, and takes everything out of your hands. She declares, “Your timing is perfect. We were just talking about what to do for dinner. Honestly, we just feel so overwhelmed.”

Ajmal trails behind her, and adds, “While you are here, perhaps we can ask your advice about something?” 

You say, “Yes, of course.”

Ajmal looks back over his shoulder at the stairs, and lowers his voice. “What do you know about this Bike Bus for the middle school?”

You nod your head and answer, “I know a little. Every Monday morning, the middle school kids all ride to school together, down College Avenue and across the river. It looks fun.”

Fatima and Ajmal trade a look, and Ajmal sighs. Fatima says, “Our son does not know how to ride a bike, and he does not own one, either. We are worried that he will feel left out, and it will be hard already to make friends in a new school….” Her voice trails off, and she looks down at the casserole pan in her hands.

You say, “I don’t have an answer right now, but I believe we can figure this out.” Fatima allows herself a sniffle as she heads for the kitchen, and Ajmal says, “Thank you for your kindness. Moving is stressful.”

You say, “I know that your son will be happy here, and so will you.”

As Fatima is clattering in the kitchen, you and Ajmal fall into silence. The movers are taking a break on the porch, emptying bottle after bottle of sports drink. You hear Mustafa exploring the rooms upstairs, and you also hear Canada geese passing by, preparing for their own migration. You take a centering breath.

There is a knock behind you, and you turn around to see Mason and Olivia standing on the porch. Mason is holding a bike helmet. Olivia says, “Uh, hi. We’re looking for Mustafa?”

Fatima, blessed with a mother’s exceptional hearing, rushes in from the kitchen. Mustafa, blessed with a middle schooler’s curiosity, bounds down the stairs at the same time.

Ajmal says, “And who are you?”

Mason replies, “Oh, I’m Mason, and this is Olivia? We work at the bike shop in the main library. The principal at Rustin told us you were moving in today. So we just thought we’d make sure Mustafa has a bike available for Monday.”

Ajmal clears his throat and says, “That’s very kind of you, but -”

Mustafa steps forward and interrupts his father, saying, “Everybody calls me Moose. I don’t know how to ride a bike.”

Olivia smiles at him and says, “Moose, you don’t know how to ride a bike… yet. Come on outside.”

Fatima says to you under her breath, “Do you know these teenagers?”

You say, “Yes, I do. They’re wonderful.”

You step out on the porch with Fatima and Ajmal, watching with interest as Mason and Olivia get Moose on the bike. They walk him up and down the sidewalk, encouraging him to put his feet on the pedals while they steady him. You hear Mason say, “Oh, you’re a soccer player? Then you already have great balance. This won’t take long at all.” Each time they pass the house, they are walking a little bit faster.

You excuse yourself quietly as Fatima and Ajmal watch their son and his cycling coaches. When you get back to your house, you plop down on the couch on your porch, savoring the beautiful weekend day. You take a sip from your water bottle, which you had left on the coffee table from breakfast, and the water is still chilly on your tongue. You sink back into the cushions, closing your eyes, and you take a slow breath.

You hear a commotion out front, and you open your eyes to see Moose riding down the sidewalk, grinning from ear to ear. Several middle schoolers have come from around town on their own bikes, summoned by the older kids, and they ride in the street alongside Moose, cheering him on. Down the way, you see Mason and Olivia trade a high five.