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Show 18-4 Father stepped down hard and the motor exploded into sound. The seat under me vibrated and Father and I joined together as we drove out over the rutted driveway into the street. Then the ride smoothed as we came out onto the paved road. Father drove slowly down the street and I wondered if people looked out from the lighted rooms to wonder who was driving a motorcycle in the dark street. We passed a few people walking and several dogs jumped out of the road as we came by, then ran up onto the curb to bark and chase us. The night was close around me, the trees loud in the wind overhead, every rock and rut in the road right under my feet. The breeze curled around Father and snatched at my hair and blouse and I was afraid that it would pull me off the bike. I hugged Father harder. Then he turned onto a brighter street, one lined with stores and bars instead of trees. Now I felt everyone staring at us as the overhead lights on the corner glowed around us. When we stopped at a light, Father steadied the bike with both feet and peered over his shoulder at me. "Ok, Annie? Having fun?" I could only nod. My breath was gone. He reached down to pat my knee and then we were off again. I had dreamed of flying and I knew that night that this would be the closest I could ever come. The noise, the trees whipping past us, the cold air pushing at me, forcing even my laughter down my throat and making it hard to open my eyes, and all the time, Father sheltering me behind him, leading me off into the night darkness. When we finally circled the block one last time and then turned into the driveway, I was exhausted with the excitement. I could barely stand for a moment and Father reached out to steady me. |
