Money he had earned.
Money he was finally allowing himself to keep.
The seller helped load the bike into the car.
Evan spent the entire drive home looking backward at it through the rear window.
“You’re going to hurt your neck.”
“I don’t care.”
The first place he wanted to ride was Jeremy’s park.
Of course it was.
For almost an hour, he raced the path while I timed him.
Thirty-nine seconds.
Then thirty-eight.
Then thirty-eight again.
“Your stopwatch is broken.”
“Or that’s your speed.”
“No.”
He took off again.
Near the far end of the path, a younger boy’s bicycle chain slipped off.
The boy nearly fell.
Evan stopped.
I watched from the bench.
He crouched beside the bike.
Turned it upside down.
Got grease all over his fingers.
A few minutes later, the chain was back on.
The boy’s father reached for his wallet.
“What do I owe you?”
Evan froze.
I could see him thinking.
Then he shook his head.
“Nothing.”
The man smiled.
