by PD Kiernan
Suzie arrived at her house before her mother arrived from work. She collapsed in a ball on her living room couch. She was exhausted. The block party helped her forget things but now she kept thinking about her bike. She kept remembering when she bought it, how she put it together with her dad. She was wishing he was there right now. Maybe he could be the one to go with her to the police station instead of Cassidy’s dad. He should be.
She wondered where he was and what he was doing right now. Maybe he had found another family, another daughter, and was helping her build her own bike. She started to imagine what she would look like. Then she quickly decided thinking about this kind of thing was pointless and didn’t change the fact her bike was gone. She was the only one who could do anything about it. But first she had to break the news to her mom.
She was drifting off and almost asleep when she heard the key turn in the lock. The large front door swung open with a long creak. Her mom came in and clanked her keys into a bowl in the front room. She stepped in and stopped as she saw Suzie sitting on the couch.
“Oh, hey Suze. I’m surprised to see you still up. Where’s Grandma? “
“She’s sleeping up with Debbie,” Suzie answered her mom. She had a sullen look as she tried to think of something else to say. “How was work?”
“Oh,” her mom answered as she sat down next to her and started to straighten Suzie’s hair a little, “the usual. Crowded at lunch. Crowded at dinner. Speaking of which, did Grandma warm up the leftover spaghetti?”
“Yes, I mean- I don’t know, really. I would think she did,” Suzie stammered.
“What do you mean? Were you not here for dinner?” her mom asked.
“No, I went to Cassidy’s block party.”
“Oh, right. They had food?”
“Yes. Cass’ dad had his grill out. It was good, actually. I almost forgot what happened.” Suzie could feel her throat tighten up with a gulp. Her mom looked intently at her in silence. “While I was there, my bike was stolen,” she said as tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks as she looked down.
“What? Oh no- sweetheart,” her mom said as she wiped the tears and rubbed her shoulder. “I know you love that bike. I’m so sorry. What happened?”
Suzie explained how Dwayne and Roberto had their bikes stolen over the past couple of days. How hers must have been taken soon after they arrived at the party. How Cassidy chased the thief down Lefferts Boulevard. How he got away.
“But that’s not your job, Suzie. I mean, what if you and your friends did catch up to him? You could have gotten hurt. You don’t know what kind of person that is,” Suzie’s mom said in a serious tone with a twinge of anger.
“I know. I-”, Suzie looked around the darkened room, “I didn’t know Cassidy was going to do that. I don’t know, I only wanted my bike back.”
“Of course, but a bike isn’t worth getting hurt over, is it?” her mom asked.
“I understand, but Cass knows what the bike means to me. It was the last time we were all together, like really together. You and Dad, Debbie, and me. Getting a birthday gift, just for me.” Suzie said as more tears streamed down her cheeks. She’s not going to all out cry, she thought. She refused to give in.
Suzie’s mom looked at her for a long moment and then reached for her hand, “Look, it has been tough for all of us lately. I know. I’m sure we can get another bike. Maybe not for a few weeks, but I am sure we can come up with something.”
“I’m not saying I need another bike,” Suzie said and stood up. “That’s not what I mean. I want that bike. I wanted it back. I just wanted to get it back somehow.” Suzie was crying uncontrollably now.
“Sweetheart, you know I didn’t choose this,” her mom said, reaching for her hand again.
“I want to know why. Why did he just leave? Why didn’t he want to say goodbye, at least see us again? Why did he have to take the car? Leave us with nothing. How can a dad do that?” Suzie asked as she sat back down and collapsed into her mother’s arms.
“I don’t know sweetheart. I don’t think we will ever know,” said her mom in a soft voice that started to crack.
“You once said the only way to find him was hiring a private detective, but it costs too much. You said that. Mom,” Suzie said, turning around and gripping the couch, “I’m getting better at this sort of thing. I’m not a professional and all, but I can see how it works. How to figure things out. I can probably find a cheap detective and help out to save money. If I do most of the work, I think we can find him.” Suzie wiped the tears from her eyes and her mom could see in them a spark that refused to go out.
“Okay,” she said, slowly. “But, you know Suzie, some people don’t want to be found. Some things don’t have easy answers. Even if you could find your father, you probably won’t find out why. I don’t even think he knows. I don’t even want to know anymore.” Suzie’s mom was tearing up herself now.
Suzie turned and leaned on her mom’s shoulder. She sat for a quiet moment. She listened to the slow breathing of her mother, and her own breathing slowed down to match. She felt calm again. She was tired.
“I wanted my bike back,” she whispered.
“I know, sweetheart,” her mom whispered back. “C’mon, let’s go up to bed.”
Suzie’s head was still swimming with ideas when she rested it on her soft pillow. She must be missing some clue about the thief, somewhere, she thought.
As she drifted in and out of sleep, she thought she heard a car door slam, announcing someone’s arrival. Then a motor turned on, and a loud car slowly rumbled away into the night.
Chapter 13
