A new bike

What does an eighteen year old want for her birthday?

Make up? Manicure? New boyfriend? Old boyfriend?  Me I desperately wanted a Mountain bike.  I’ve been dreaming of a smart purple one that is in the local bike shop.   Problem is it has a high price tag.  My dad works hard at the local corner shop, but listening to my parents arguing I know they are only just keeping the roof over our heads.  The landlord is demanding the rent is paid and the bedroom has a wet patch on the ceiling.

The morning of my birthday my mum shook me awake.  I was ready to act pleased for their gift.  I must be grateful for what I’m given because whatever it is, my dad has worked hard for it.

Walking slowly down the stairs I could hear my parents talking over their breakfast.  They sounded happy which didn’t happen often. Meeting me at the bottom was a familiar shape with newspaper over it.  I could feel my heart leap, they had bought it.  Grinning like Alice’s Cheshire cat, I proceeded to rip of the paper.  As my smile turned to holding back tears, my mum appeared. Lying was something I’m good at and convincing my parents that I loved the old black bike was easier than it should have been. They had remembered the new pink bike lock though.

Three days later

It was a three days later that I took the bike for a ride.  Mum waved me goodbye, excited to see me using it.  Assuring her that I was safe, despite lack of a bike helmet, I waved at her, then pedalled furiously along the road. It was as I approached the corner a tall man came running towards me.  I had to swerve the bike to avoid him, he dodged out of my way.

The body

Thinking nothing of the incident I regained control.  Continuing pedalling my mind turned to thinking of my family and my new, old, black bike. Seeing the crowd gathered ahead, something was happening. As I heard the whir of police sirens the people dispersed and I could see a body in the road. Pulling the bike on to the pavement I could hear sobbing, I realised it was young Wendy.  Her long blonde hair plastered across her face. Next to her sat her familiar pink pushchair with little Rachel kicking her legs oblivious to what had happened.  With one hand on my bike, I nudged Wendy’s arm and then  stood quietly, waiting for her to talk to me.  She sniffed loudly,

“Oh Lily, he didn’t deserve this.”

“What happened?”

She started crying again. “It’s my brother Lance, haven’t seen him in months and now he’s been shot dead.”

I didn’t know she had a brother, so I wasn’t expecting this response.

“Any ideas who would do this?”

“No, but I know he didn’t keep good company, he worked away”.

I was curious at the police taping off the area and wondered who had killed him.

“Where’d he work?”

“Don’t know, he was all over. He wore a suit, that’s all I know.”

“Hmmm”   films started playing through my head, maybe Lance had been a gangster.

A week later

Approaching the city centre, I could see the bike shop window, the purple Mountain bike still on display.  I stopped to gaze at it, looking at the £500.00 price tag, something we could not afford.  I’m just completing my A levels with dreams of being a nurse one day.

Continuing on I saw the police station., I stopped to read the message board outside and a poster caught my eye.

‘£5000 reward for information leading to the arrest for the killer of Lance Jenkins’.

Hesitating I thought of the man that nearly ran into me.  pushing the heavy door to the police station, I pulled my bike in with me.

“Hi, I need to talk to someone about Lance Jenkins.”

“I will get the Chief Inspector for you, please sit down, you can leave your bike against the wall.”

Questions

He walked off as I left the bike and sat down patiently.  I picked up ‘Hello’ magazine and flicked through it.  The Windsor’s happily smiling back at me, I couldn’t help but feel jealous but then would I really want my life all over ‘Hello.’

Seeing the handsome Policeman walking over to me, butterflies started flying around my stomach.

“Hello, I’m Chief Inspector Chambers, please come with me.”

Following him into a small room, this was not like television.  As he put our conversation on record, he started to question me.  Looking at the jug of water and plastic cups, I told him about the man and the time I saw him.  How he nearly ran into my bike and gave his full description.

The Chief Inspector then took down my phone number, he already had my name.  Thanking me he promised to be in touch if my statement led to the arrest of a killer.  The man I saw might have been innocent but they would now investigate.

Two weeks later

Woken from sleep I could hear the phone ringing downstairs, then footsteps.

“Lily, it’s the Police station for you.”  She looked confused.  Taking the phone from her I spoke.

“Hello”.

“Hello Miss Green, this is Chief Inspector Chambers.  We have found Mr Jenkins killer from your accurate description.  We would like you to come and collect your cheque”.

Feeling dizzy, I stammered “Thank-you” I was in shock, I thought of the bike.  I could give my parents the £4500, that would please them.

A week later

Standing on the pedals of my new Mountain bike, my mum sat laughing on my new, old, black bike.  I’m proud of my parents and I know they’re proud of me.  They were relieved for the extra money as they could now pay a few months rent. My mum cried when I told her what had happened. This Christmas was going to be easier for them than ever before.  However, I know, in life it is important to be thankful. I have my family with me, my new Mountain bike is a bonus but a man sadly lost his life.   Our future is not promised, we have to live the life we can and try and be happy and grateful for what we have.

This Christmas look after your families and those closest to you. We don’t know what the future has in store.

For more see A bad day and the fates of a closed road written for Writers Unite photo prompt

Written for photo prompt with Writers Unite