He'll Never Ride His Bike Again

He'll Never Ride His Bike Again

He was out there
Every day.

The kid with the big grin,
The fast legs,
The BMX bike with the seat too low.

It didn't matter,
He was never sitting.

He was moving,
Spinning,
Dancing through the world.

She saw him every day.
Reckless kid, she thought.
Perhaps his mom is thoughtless.
Doesn't she know
It's a dangerous world?

Kids don't know these things.

We have to teach them.

Teach your children well.

She saw him every day,
The grinning kid,
Dancing on the bike.

What's wrong with him?
Doesn't he know?
It's a dangerous world.

That's why she drives
Bobby
Every day.

Too many cars
On the way to school.
Too dangerous.

She saw him every day.
Except today.

The phone chirped.
Important text.
From Marci.

She didn't notice
That the light had changed.

Dave,
Behind her,
Did.

Honked.

Quick acceleration.
Reflex.
Right turn.

Green light,
After all.

She saw him every day.
Except today.

It wasn't her fault.
She told her self.

He was reckless.
Reckless as a kid.

We have to teach them.
It's a dangerous world.

That's why she drives
Bobby
Every day.

We have to watch out
For them.

Oh God,
I never saw him.

Except every day.

Except for today.

He'll never ride his bike again.
Spin his legs.
Dance through the world.

Or say she missed him.

He's not
Crumpled.
Lifeless.
Dead.

Say the last second
Wasn't the last second,
But the closest call.

Urgent.
More urgent than the text from Marci.

Did she get the message?

Did he?

Is he dead on the road?

Or lifeless in the back of a car?

Driven.
Every day.
Like Bobby.

He'll never ride his bike again.
Spin his legs.
Dance through the world.