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Precious dew was dripping from leaves. Although the sun was threatening to drink up that beautiful liquid, the dew did not run away and flee, as Jonah fled God when asked to preach against Nineveh. As the sun was peeking over the horizon while warming the earth with his tongues of fire, the dew stood her ground against that immense force. She did this with such dignity and courage; that my cousin Steven and I decided to undertake a challenge of that immense scale. We decided to experience as much of Houston as humanly possible. Taking on the challenge like that glorious dew, who stood her ground against the sun, we were to come closer to nature. Closer yet were we to become in understanding the beauty of all the life around us.
As we ate breakfast, excitement was quickly drifting over us, tempting us to go outside and join him. Looking outside, we found that we could not take excitement’s beckoning any longer. Since the door was ajar, we could smell the sweet scent of dew, which came from the massive crape myrtles outside.
Steve and I raced to the last spoonful of our cornflakes, then rushed to change into lighter clothes. We decided to make the final preparations for our journey. To do this, we had to prepare for any challenge we might face. Steve put dad’s bike tool kit, which happened to look like a water bottle, on his bike. He then attached the tire pump to the bottom of the bike frame. This was to ensure we would not be stranded if one of our tires went flat. We also stored a couple bottles of drinking water; we made sure that they had enough ice to keep cool for the eventful day ahead.
As we went down the stairs carrying the bikes upon our shoulders, we felt the excitement amassing within our souls. At fifteen, we were temporarily becoming vagabonds in the old sense. We were to be like the romantic drifter in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Songs of Travel. Drifting from place to place, only to experience the beauty of life and nature. Even if it were to only be for a day, we would be one step closer to understanding the complexities of the world around us.
Since I had my bike at home, I rode upon my uncle’s ebon Schwinn. This monstrous mountain bike was meant for heavy riding. It had two shock absorbers as if it was a beast with unruly strength bearing its fangs to give fright to all. Handles that sprouted forward like a mother, to help you have the most correct posture. There was one component of that bike which absolutely loathed me. The pedals, they sank their steel teeth into my leg when my foot slipped from its steel grip.
My cousin rode his burgundy Giant mountain bike like he was a part of that bike; he rides as smoothly as a hawk takes to air. His bike is a clone of the bike I have at home. The only differences are the handlebars and seats.
As we left the apartments, turning right on Scotland Street, we bid farewell to our place of comfort and greeted the great unknown before us. We found ourselves being as though tugged by the stern line of an eighteenth century sailing ship that was on its way towards new levels of understanding.
As we rode, Steve, who had an innate sense of direction, was the navigator. It was as though he was born with a compass inside his head.
We followed the street until Steve decided to make a right. While going down this street for a while, I noticed we were in the poor part of the neighborhood. As we rode, there was an old black man standing in his yard. I was wary; this was the first time that I have been inside this neighborhood. The region consisted of a majority of poor black people. This made me feel uncomfortable; as I had never before met anybody in this neighborhood.
Steve went along and greeted the fellow. “Hello there!”
My fear that the old guy would do us harm quickly disappeared as the old man waved.
Steve told me after we left, “Don’t let that old guy worry you. The old people in this neighborhood are harmless.”
I’m not sure if it was out of ignorance, or just sheer friendliness that Steve was comfortable with the people in this area. I only hoped that he is right in trusting the people of this neighborhood.
We turned this way and that, crossing paths with joggers, people walking their dog, and only a few children.
Steve decided to ride around the River Oaks area, so we crossed the pedestrian bridge on Memorial Drive. Steve takes the lead while riding with absolute confidence. With me trailing the only thing I dare look at, was the back of Steven’s head. His bushy brown hair is so thick, it dulls razor blades when barbers try to thin his hair.
Once we crossed that treacherous bridge, we went along wherever the road took us in the direction of River Oaks. After a while, we ended up in a commercial district. While there, we decided to ride up and down the parking garages. We raced up to the top level that was open to the sky. On top, we could see the whole town; to our aft was our origin, and our destination was ahead of us. Now, we were at the beam of our adventure. That is, we were at the midpoint, the widest part of the ship that was taking us on this voyage. It truly was an awe-inspiring experience; we stayed up there for about ten minutes. The only thing we cared to do was just to absorb the view.
Steve took off his stained Astros hat, which he wore everywhere, and gazed outward like a captain in the crow's nest searching far and beyond for any sign of life.
Steve was about the same height as me, only an inch shorter. But at that moment, he seemed to be much taller than before.
Steve said the direction we must go, hopped on his bike and went down the parking garage.
We rode our bikes towards the River Oaks area. On our way there; we bumped into a couple bad neighborhoods. While in one of these neighborhoods, either Steve or I ran out of drinking water, so we went into a little Stop & Go. This place had boards over about half the windows. What we could see on the outside looked as if it has not been cleaned before. I did not feel comfortable there, so I told my cousin that there are other places to go get water.
However, Steve replied, “Our water’s in there. This place isn’t as bad as you think.”
Well, I have to say, he was right. Just because a store looks dreadful on the outside does not mean that your life will be in jeopardy when you enter.
We got our water then rode towards River Oaks.
Finally, we arrived within the River Oaks area. This scene caused immediate relaxation over us as the trees branched over, protecting all underneath. Light passed through branches and everything was cool and shady. The air had a scent as beautiful as the trees. Its fragrance was like the smell of sweet dew early in the morning.
The rustles of leaves as the wind blows, and the music birds make were the only sounds that Steve and I heard.
We are where we belong, at the bow of our sailing ship of knowledge. We are now closer to nature, more so then ever before. We look forward while on our ship, and decide to jump in the water to swim towards the horizon in search of other ships.
©2000 Terry Bohannon. Contact the author terry@abortionessay.com for intended use.