Friday, July 27, 2007

Bicycle drive by

While driving home from work last night, I noticed a small bicycle weaving erratically back and forth in the street ahead of me. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the young rider (no more than 8 years old) was in fact reading the paper. This was problematic for two reasons: first, he was using his arms to hold the paper open across the handlebars and therefore could not steer the bike. Secondly, the paper was so large that he could not see over it to watch where he was going. The resulting effect being a bicycle that appeared to be driven by a drunken newspaper.

I stopped the car completely and watched with mild alarm as the bicycle continued to swerve towards me. As it got closer, I could make out the headlines of the paper, which was not in fact the paper, but the grocery store circular. The bicycle was less than 3 feet from the car now, and headed right for me. If I didn't do something, this kid was going to run his bike into my stopped car. So I honked, just a little one, but it must have gotten his attention. I saw a head peek over the top of the grocery store circular and upon realizing he was hurtling towards a collision made a face I may never forget. Eyebrows rocketed up, eyes bugged out and the mouth dropped open as he swerved away missing the car by inches.

From a safe distance behind the car, the child stopped the bike, and turned to look at me. Then he shook his head as if to say "watch it lady"! Aghast, I watched as he turned back to his grocery store circular and continued reading as he rode off.

5 comments:

Grace L. Wu said...

what an idiot kid

Estee said...

So, what do you think? Bananas were 25 cents/lb? What in this world could have been so entertaining in a grocery store circular. Maybe he had a comic book stashed in there and he didn't want anyone to see it. :) I love the visual of a giant newspaper riding a bicycle!

Anonymous said...

I am not sure what to make of a kid that does not pay attention to his well being on the road riding a bike but is concerned on what is on sale at the local market to save money! What are we teaching these kids these days~ Times are changing. I think it started back when people would attacked each other at the store over a "Tickle Me Elmo" and Cabbage Patch Kids and has trickled down from there....Though I will admit as I read I was expecting the rider to be Chris! LOL

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha Rachel .. If it were me yesterday it would have been the new HP book. GEZZ

Anonymous said...

You are all missing the point. The young man had a playboy stashed inside the paper. Nothing else can captivate the attention of a young man more than his first ever booby. That reminds me of the first time......uh, maybe not.