As a little kid, I would play a lot. I loved toys, mostly improvised toys. I would take literally anything as a toy, as long as I could move them.
I had fun. However, I had a fascination for one thing, a bicycle. I saw several kids with bicycles and I just admired them.
I wanted a bicycle for myself. Whenever I saw the other kids with bicycles, I would just stand and watch them. I could see the joy they had when they rode their bicycle. Back then, having a bicycle as a kid meant you were one of the big boys. Such kids felt on top of the world. Other kids would try to be friends with those who had a bicycle just so that they could have the chance to ride their bicycle.
Usually, kids who had bicycles back then had parents who were either rich or belonged to the middle class. Some of the kids didn't like to share their bicycles, while some others did.
Everyday I watched the other kids ride their bicycles on the street. Almost every evening, kids from different homes would come out on the street to ride their bicycle. Those kids who didn't have would take turns to ride their friend's bicycle.
One evening, as I watched them having fun with their bicycles, one of the kids, Daniel came to meet me.
"Would you like to ride my bicycle?" He asked.
I lit up immediately he asked.
"Yes I do" I replied with a smile on my face.
There was no way I was letting that opportunity pass me by.
"Do you know how to ride a bicycle?" Daniel asked
"I do, but I'm not so good at it" I said.
"Alright, I'll guide you" Daniel replied.
Immediately, I got on the bicycle. My balance wasn't stable enough. Daniel helped to make sure the bicycle was balanced and gradually I got the hang of it. It was a lot of fun for me. A special moment. At that point, I knew I wanted a bicycle for myself. If I could wish upon a star, it would definitely be for a bicycle.
I had so much fun that I forgot about the time. Suddenly, I saw my neighbour approaching and I knew what he came for.
"You mom has been looking for you. She sent me to tell you to go home now" he said.
On hearing that, I sprinted home because I knew that I was about to get in trouble.
That evening, while my uncle was around on a visit, I told my mom that I wanted a bicycle.
She was shocked and speechless at first. My uncle also heard it and he looked surprised.
"Now is not the right time to get you a bicycle dear. There are other things that we need money for. Maybe sometime in the future, I will get you one" she said.
I retired to bed that night knowing that my wish of owning a bicycle is far from becoming a reality.
Two days later, I was on my way home from playing with my friends when I saw a beautiful looking bicycle in the compound. I wondered who had that bicycle.
"Could it be that someone forgot their bicycle here?" I wondered.
It definitely didn't belong to the neighbour's kids otherwise they would have been all over it.
I walked in and saw my mother and uncle discussing.
"Mom, who owns that bicycle outside?" I asked.
My mother smiled.
"It's yours. Your uncle got it for you" she replied.
I couldn't believe it. It was as if I was in a dream. I looked at my uncle and he nodded.
"It's yours" he said.
My face lit up.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you" I said as I jumped.
I ran outside to check out my new bicycle. It was indeed a dream come true. I was excited to show off my brand new bicycle. At that moment, I knew I was going to share it happily with my friends who didn't have their own bicycles yet.
"Make sure you're careful and safe. Try not to get injured" my mother said from inside the house.
"Yes mom, I'll be careful" I said as I took my bicycle for a spin.
All the other kids were surprised to see me on a brand new bicycle. A lot of attention came on me as I rode on the street but I didn't care. As far as I was concerned, it wasn't just my bicycle, it was a bicycle for me and my good friends whom I played with almost everyday.
