Present Perfect(6)

He got up out of his chair and went to the garage to get his tools as I ran outside and stood impatiently by my bike. I stared down at the training wheels, finding it hard to believe that within the next ten minutes I would be completely free of them. The rattle of Dad’s toolbox startled me out of my hypnotic state.

When he got to the bike, he got down on his knees, and started the surgical procedure of removing the training wheels. I felt my pulse quicken with every turn of the wrench. I began rocking back and forth, barely able to contain my excitement.

I watched intensely as wheel number two slid off and was placed lifeless in the driveway. It was time. The excitement I felt only moments ago quickly turned to nervousness. Biting down on my bottom lip, my eyebrows knitted together. The tingling that had started in my fingers and toes now spread to the rest of my body. “Sweetheart, you ready to give it a try?” Dad asked.

“Huh?”

“Are you ready to ride?” Still staring at the lifeless wheels, I nodded my answer. “I know you’re scared, but you can do this. You’re a big girl now.” He gathered his tools and closed his toolbox. As he stood up, he said, “Besides, your sister was a year younger than you when she stopped using training wheels.”

“Nice,” I said, sarcastically, shaking my head slightly.

My stomach dropped when I heard his words. I was already a year behind Emily. What if I couldn’t keep my balance on the bike and I fell off? Dad would be disappointed in me. I felt the pulse in my throat begin to throb and beads of sweat started to trickle down the back of my neck. I inhaled two deep breaths, trying to calm myself. Looking up at my dad, I said, “Let’s do this.”

He smiled. “You’re going to do great. You have some catching up to do to be as good as Emily, but you shouldn’t have a problem.”

We walked my bike down the driveway. Dad held it securely while I climbed on. He looked into my eyes and said, “I’m right here. I won’t let you fall.”

I took in another deep breath and then slowly let it out as my dad made sure my helmet was secure. My right foot was planted on the pedal. I leaned up slightly and pushed off with my left foot. I felt good, in control.

The wind whipped through my hair as I started to pick up speed. My chest swelled with pride and my face beamed with a huge smile of satisfaction. I felt taller, bigger, and stronger, as if I could conquer the world.

I yelled over my shoulder, “Look Daddy! I’m doing it!” There was no response from him.

My insides started to quiver and my palms were getting sweaty. I was scared the handlebars would slip from my hands because of how wet they were becoming. I immediately pushed on the brakes to stop. I glanced over my shoulder. I saw my dad, standing at the end of our next door neighbor’s driveway. I inhaled a deep calming breath. He had the biggest grin on his face. I had ridden three houses away from mine, without training wheels, by myself. The biggest smile crossed my face.

As I rode back toward him, he began to applaud and cheer. “You did it all by yourself, princess! Congratulations!”

I hopped off my bike, pushed down the kickstand, and ran as fast as I could into my dad’s arms. He lifted me up and kissed me on the cheek before putting me back down.

While I was basking in my father’s pride, Emily came zooming by on her bright-red ten-speed bike. She popped a wheelie both times that she whooshed past us. She was always such a show off. She circled around a couple of times before coming to a screeching halt in front of us. “What’s going on?” Emily asked.

“Amanda just took her first ride without training wheels,” Dad explained.

“Good. It’s about time you stop being such a baby, Manda,” she said. I simply narrowed my eyes at her. “Don’t get all mad. I’m just teasing you.” Just then, Emily’s best friend, Erica, rode up on her bike.

“Come on Em. We need to get over to Shelly’s. She has something very important to tell us,” Erica said.

Emily backed her bike up and rode down the street, popping a wheelie before yelling at us over her shoulder, “See ya later!”

Admiring Emily’s bike skills, Dad said, “See how well your sister rides, princess? Maybe one day you’ll be as great as her.”

He had already turned his full attention back to Emily, missing my eye roll completely.





It had been two weeks since I ditched the training wheels. Noah and I couldn’t wait to get home each day, finish our homework, and take to the road. I was allowed to go as far as the Porter’s house, which was three houses away from mine. Noah was allowed to ride all around our neighborhood.

He had been riding his Schwinn red and black BMX for over a year now and he was awesome on it. Not only could he do forward and backward wheelies, he could do the Bunny Hop, the one hander, and jump a couple of trashcans. Noah was so cool. I wasn’t cool. This was clearly shown by the fact that I was 8 years old and had only been riding my bike sans training wheels for two weeks.

I had been satisfied with riding to the Porter’s house, but after two weeks, the temptation to go further was eating me alive. I begged Mom daily for permission to ride around the block to Noah’s house. She kept telling me no because I had only been riding without training wheels for a short time. She wasn’t comfortable with me going farther away just yet.

I knew Noah was getting tired of riding up and down the same small portion of street I was confined to. He didn’t complain, but he and I never needed words to pass between us to know what the other was thinking or feeling.