Very Lovely

Flash Fiction

Very Lovely

Riding my bike home from school. I did daily until it got too cold, then I took the bus. I’d keep riding but Dad got crazy. The school wasn't far, just further than “walking” distance.

At the end of our street was a long patch of woods. I hardly ever saw a car because the only people who use this road, usually lived there.

I enjoyed the ride, and often told myself stories. That day I was a princess, escaping from people trying to kidnap me and get the king to pay with gold to get me back. Instead, I escaped on my own, hiding in a basket of clothes while they searched. Then I stole a horse to get away! My bike was the horse.

Suddenly a horn blew! I was so engrossed with my story I got careless with the street, wandering a ways out toward the middle.

I immediately pulled over as the car went by, slowly. I didn’t recognize the driver, a woman. In the back a boy about my age, though I never saw him before either.

It turned out they were new, just moved in at the end of our street! My grade too! His name was Jim. Well… seeing me biking he wanted to bike too! Somehow, he got his mother to talk to my father and they decided two bikers was safer than one… I was not happy… but also not consulted, just told that would happen from then on.

Fortunately, Jim and I turned out to be good friends. Over the next year, Jim’s mother and my father turned out to be very, very good friends! They got married! Jim became my brother!

Twelve years later, my “brother” became my own husband. Life is strange, but sometimes, very lovely.