Bicycles

The Park

Wendell and Petey were sitting on a short brick wall in the park. Several children ran by, screaming and laughing.

One of them stopped and stared at Wendell. He was wearing shorts, sandals and a green shirt with a slightly faded picture of a bicycle. There was a caption circling around the bicycle that said "Two cool for school". The child was holding a paddle ball in his left hand and a balloon in the right.

The child looked at Wendell for what seemed like two minutes. Then he pulled up his left arm and started hitting Wendell intensely with the paddle ball. Wendell simply sighed and ignored it. Eventually the child followed the rest of the children. Petey laughed quietly to himself.

"Something funny?" Wendell asked angrily.

"Nope." Petey replied, smiling and giggling.

"It's just that it's been awhile since you were this happy. Let's go home now. I don't trust Charlie with my peanut butter."

Wendell looked at Petey, puzzled.

"You mean the dog? Wait, you think I enjoyed that kid hitting me?"

Petey jumped off of the wall.

"Yes, and double yes. You didn't stop him, you didn't argue with him, you did move, you didn't-"

Wendell interrupted. "Okay, I get it. I was easy on him."

Wendell got up, inspecting his worn jeans.

"Aw, man. I got a stain from the moss."

Petey walked over to Wendell and began wiping off the moss.

"Please stop touching me. Anyway, want to invite Russell over?" Wendell asked, brushing Petey's hands off of his jeans. "Haven't seen them in forever."

Petey thought about what Wendell had asked him. "Yeah, okay."

And the two of them walked home.