Dear Popo,
Growing up I had a bike.
I was so proud of that bike; it was mostly white but with some blue
accents, and it was a boy’s bike. Only a
boy’s bike would do for me because I was too fast and too strong for a girl’s
bike. I named my bike Lightening; he was
more than just a bike, he was a living, breathing machine and together we were faster
than lightening. I would take Lightening
out when I stayed at Ma’s place. I’d see
how fast I could ride around her block, I’d hear the wind echoing through my
ears. Lightening and I were invincible.
Today while biking to work in the rain, I had a moment of
childhood jubilation that reminded me of my time with Lightening. There was nothing better than sitting on that
bike, legs pumping hard, racing down the empty street, experiencing a feeling
of freedom I haven’t had since reaching adulthood. Today I couldn’t help but smile and dream
about putting my arms up in the air, let the wind rushing past my ears envelope
me and return me to that place of youthful freedom.
Suddenly someone yelling “HEY, YOUR PUSSY’S WET” broke the
silence and brought me back to reality.
There, on the side of the road pointing and laughing was a homeless man,
mocking the fact that rain had soaked through my clothes, and my tires had left
a track of mud splattered up my back reaching from my butt to my helmet. Thanks homeless man – your commentary is
unwanted and yes, my female genitalia may indeed be wet from the rain, but where
there is rain there is often times Lightening!
Love,
Kiki
