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Time for a Cuppa!

The Magazine

For all the Family

The Cycle

Mike Coatesworth

My aunt always told me that if it wasn't broke, then don't fix it!

Talking about broke, reminds me of a story about when I was a lad, when the schools had closed for the term. I put on what were called my "playing out clothes". These were clothes that if they got damaged, it was no big deal, though I did try to look after them the best I could. Occasionally they would get dirty as I sat on the handlebars of one of my friend’s bike.

My dad had a bike that he used to get to and fro from his place of work at Crofts Engineering, and often either my brother or I would meet him and he would give us a lift on his crossbars, which I enjoyed immensely and was determined that as soon as it was possible I too would learn to ride a bike. I couldn’t believe it when one day he brought home a car and told us that as he would be using the car to get to work in future, we could have his bike. We got cloths and cleaned the oil from the frame where it had gathered from my dad’s overalls, and soon it was ready to ride.

My friends arrived with their bikes and I with the one that my dad had given me and I began learning how to ride the two-wheeler cycle, and as you know, the hardest part is keeping the bike stable and in a straight line. But after a few attempts I managed to figure it out and the more attempts that I had the braver I became. Soon we were all riding up and down the avenue as fast as we could. Of course I had the occasional fall, but I got up and tried again until I got it right.

I remember my brother learning to ride the cycle, and after a few falls, he too mastered it and was soon showing off to his friends. On his final run, he went to the top of the avenue and began cycling as fast as his legs allowed him to pedal. Putting his head down, his legs went fifty to the dozen, now whether it was a lack of concentration, no one will ever know, for one minute he was cycling hard down the road, the next he hit a neighbours garden fence.

For a moment everyone was silent and we watched him as if it was in slow motion, flying through the air with his arms out in front of him screaming his head off, to land suddenly on the grass, where he appeared to roll forever.

With eyes and mouths opened wide in shock, we stood there, unable to comprehend what we had just witnessed.

Then as if we had been given the off with a starting pistol, we all rushed over to see what damage had been done to the cycle? The front wheel was stuck in between the slats of the fence and was clearly buckled, but the rest of the cycle was okay. Well we were all as one and relieved that the precious cycle was not entirely wrecked and I did have a spare wheel to repair it.

My brother?

Oh he was okay, a few bumps and tears, but my aunt sorted him out and fixed him up again.

Time for a Cuppa!

Mike Coatesworth

If you think my stories are true, then they probably are

If you think my stories are fiction, then just relax and enjoy the tales

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My novels can be seen at

http://www.btinternet.com/~mikeco158/onetear1.htm

http://www.btinternet.com/~mikeco158/cuppa1.htm

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