"Please? Mom? Dad? I really need a bike to get around. I promise I'll never go even a few steps away from this one without locking it first!"
Dad slumped even further into his easy chair. "If we could afford it, I would allow you another chance. I would also withhold your allowance until it was paid for, by the way."
Mom pursed her lips tightly. "You heard your father, the family budget can't afford to pay for your mistake. Now go wash up for supper, Luke."
Luke slowly trudged upstairs. "I'll get a bike, somehow. No way I'm walking three miles just to see a movie, or have ice cream with the guys."
The next day, he was kicking an empty soda can down the otherwise neat gravel road, deep in thought. "My whole summer is ruined unless I can get a bike. Maybe I can get a job at Danner's. Nah, It'd take all summer and then some to earn enough. At that rate, I might as well just wait for Christmas."
Ahead, he heard vicious but familiar barking. "One day that dog's gonna get loose, and whoever is around will be mincemeat..."
Despite the high chainlink fence surrounding the junkyard, he stayed as far away as possible when he went by.
The dog followed for a short distance. With a final snarl, it stalked over to a partially crushed Cadillac, and contentedly curled up in the driver's seat.
Once the dog was quiet, Luke stopped to look at the mess. "Maybe I could fix up some of this junk, and sell it. Some of it looks like it's still got some life in it."
Then he saw it, propped up against an ancient floor model television set. "A real mountain bike. It's beautiful!"
The bike had no tires, and its once gleaming frame was dull and scratched. But it was in one piece, and the perfect size. "I wonder how much the old man will want for it?"
Luke walked the rest of the way around the block, to the front of Basker's Salvage. It was clean and tidy, unlike the rest of the property.
"Hello, Mr. Basker?"
A man well past his middle years walked out of the building, rubbing his eyes as if he'd been napping. "What is it? I don't want kids rummaging through my stuff. It's too dangerous back there."
Luke shook his head. "No Sir, I'm interested in an item I saw when I was walking by. It's an old bicycle."
Mr. Basker grinned. "I think I know the exact one you mean. And it's not old, for your information. It was brought in last week. Rich people's kid decided that learning to ride was too much trouble."
Luke gasped. "Then it's almost new? What happened to it?"
The old man waved a hand towards the back of the property. "Oh, the kid just left it chained up outside a store and walked home. It was left there for a few days, and since the neighborhood thieves and vandals couldn't steal it they did their worst."
Luke looked down at his shoes. How could he just leave it?"
Mr. Basker shook his head. "I guess it wasn't important to him."
"But how? It was his bike..."
He looked at the boy for a few seconds. "So you think you can do something with it?"
Luke grinned. "Yes, Sir! I'd have it looking like new! How much do you want for it?"
The old man rubbed the stubble on his chin. "How about five days of work? I won't go easy, mind you. They'll be long days."
Luke jumped in the air, then remembered his manners. He stepped forward, hand outstretched. "You have a deal, Sir. What time would you like me to be here?"
"Eight in the morning - every morning. For every minute you're late, you owe me twenty extra. Understood?"
"Yes, Sir."
By the time Luke pushed the bike into the garage, he had also earned the beginnings of muscles he hadn't known existed. Plus a good work ethic.
Dad walked into the garage. "You're right, it was a beauty at one time. But it needs a lot of work, and some expensive parts. Let's take it down to Fritz's Cycling tomorrow, and see what we can do."
Luke couldn't sleep that night. Visions of racing a shiny blue bike over pavement and trail kept his mind too busy. At first light, he crept into the kitchen, and made himself a bowl of cereal.
Mom walked in, cutting short a yawn. Her eyes widened. "Whatever are you doing up at six in the morning?"
He blushed. "Sorry if I scared you, but I just couldn't sleep. I'm excited about getting my new bike fixed. What are you doing up?"
She yawned again. "Oh, Mittens wouldn't leave me alone. She wants to go hunt, so I came down to let her out."
As if in agreement, the tabby rubbed against the kitchen door.
Mom opened the door. "Unless you need something, I'm going back to sleep."
Luke shook his head. "I'm fine, I think I'll just go look at my bike after I eat."
She smiled. "I think this experience was good for you."
A lifetime later, at nine A.M., Luke and his father stood in Fritz's Cycling.
"Well, it's one of the best models out there. Worth ten times more than the one I sold you. And then some. But this also means the parts for it won't be cheap. They'll cost more than replacing the bike you lost."
Luke's eyes moistened. He turned towards the door, pulling his bike gently along. "Thanks for looking at it. I don't have enough money for that, Sir."
Dad put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure something out. You worked so hard for a bike. Maybe I can afford a new one by Christmas."
Fritz slid around in front of Luke. "Or maybe we can make a deal? It just so happens that I need help around here. After hours we can work on your bike, and I'll order the parts as you earn them?"
Luke sniffled, keeping his face hidden. "Really? I could work here... and have my bike?"
Fritz grinned, and looked at Dad. "Sure. I think every kid should get one second chance bike! This is actually a double second chance, one for you, and one for your bike."
Cover image made in Canva Pro using their gallery