The Lost Bicycle

The bicycle seemed to glow red and gold in the bright summer light.

Sketched by Parmeet Kaur

"No way, curly-top! I don’t think a nine-year-old can ride this high-tech bike,” replied Rinku haughtily.

"He’s so selfish,” Sonia complained to her best friend Mona, “One day I’ll get him back for not sharing,” she said, as she tossed back her black curls. She always did this when she was very angry.

Sonia got her chance at revenge the very next day. Rinku’s bicycle was standing unlocked in the garage. His carelessness this one time gave Sonia the opportunity she had been waiting for. Her big brown eyes gleamed in excitement at the prospect of what she was about to do.

"Mona, you and I are going for a ride today,” she said “Jump back and enjoy the ride.”

Mona hesitated, but Sonia’s excitement was too contagious.

Off went the two girls riding down the street, on the new red bicycle. The breeze made their hair fly. What fun it was. They rode up to the park.

"Let’s go see the ducklings,” said Sonia.

"Should we leave the bike here unlocked?” asked Mona.

"It’ll be fine,” replied Sonia, shrugging her shoulders impatiently.

Looking at the antics of the ducklings was fun for a while. Soon it was time to go back home. They went to where they had parked the bicycle, but they were in for a big shock. Rinku’s red bicycle was GONE!

Sonia’s heart skipped a beat. Her legs started shaking so hard that she would’ve fallen if Mona had not caught her.

"Where could it be? Who could’ve taken it?” asked Sonia with tears streaming down her cheeks.

They both looked here and there but the bicycle was nowhere to be seen. Mona suggested telling Sonia’s parents what had happened.

"No, promise me you’ll never tell anyone I took the bike.” Sonia pleaded.

With heavy hearts, they both walked back home. Rinku was pacing up and down the driveway; his face wore a frown. Something was bothering him.

"Sonia have you seen my bike?” he asked.

"No,” she replied, as she looked away evasively. She had a feeling that she was going to be sick.

Sonia knew Rinku would get in big trouble if their parents found out that he had been careless in locking the bicycle. She ran straight up to her room and did not even come down for dinner.

It was midnight, but Sonia could not sleep. The guilt was too much. I have to tell Rinku what happened, she thought. With a racing heart and quivering chin she knocked at Rinku’s door.

"Rinku, I took your bike,” said she in a small voice, “someone stole it while…”

Before she could finish, Rinku opened the door wide and behind him stood the shiny red bicycle. Sonia stared hard at it and burst into tears.

"I saw you take the bike. I followed you to the park.” Rinku explained.

"You took the bicycle to scare me,” said Sonia sobbing.

"No, not to scare you, just to teach you to respect other people’s belongings.” he replied. “Come give me a hug”

As they hugged Sonia realized what a valuable lesson she learned that day.