Anita sits on the one-seater near the front window, watching the rain pelt down onto the road, washing the grime away. Pools of rainwater gather where potholes lay, the road is a shade greyer than before. Anita sinks into the chair. These are not ideal conditions when one wants to go outside. Mother has already been against her venturing out. Soon the swooshing sound is replaced by the pitter-patter falling on the rooftop. It fades away, signalling the end of the rain shower that left as quickly as it came.

"Anita!" comes a yell from outside the house

Anita peeks out of the window. Bea, her best friend is standing outside along with her schoolmate, Kaia, Kais's older brother Deon and his friend Dean. On hearing the noise mother comes to the window.

"Good evening," she says as she spots the children standing in the road

"Good evening, can Anita come outside?" Bea asks

Anita is behind her mother now, pleading with her. On wet days Anita and her little sister are never allowed out of the house.

"Mummy please," Anita says with her hands clasped together

"Be quiet or you'll wake Nikita from her nap," Mother says, she has just put Nikita down for a short nap and now she was trying to get about with her work.

"Mummy" Anita's voice is a high whisper, she hopes that if she is persistent, her mother will change her mind

"Alright," Mother gives in, she does not want Nikita to wake again "but get back before the street lights," she warns her daughter.

Anita jumps off the chair and rushes over to the front door. Slipping on a pair of blue rubber slippers she opens the door, stepping out on the front stoop before shutting the door behind her. The others were now gathered around a bright red bicycle.

"This is my brother's" Dean is saying, proudly displaying it for the rest of the children "He has lent it to me"

Anita has never ridden a two-wheeler before, she has only ever ridden Bea's bicycle with the training wheels. Everything about this bicycle is bigger because it is meant for an adult.

Dean swings his foot over the bicycle bar. He sits with one foot on the paddle and the other on the ground.

"I'll go first," He says with a smirk on his face

He paddles up the gap, when he reaches the top he goes around the corner. Anita wonders when he would return when they hear the noise of a bell dinging from behind them. Dean was approaching from the bottom of the gap.

"It's not that hard to ride," he said all smiles, slowing the bicycle down beside the small group, "Who's next?"

It was decided that Deon would have a go next. He was the tallest among the children and so it was easy for him to mount the bicycle and ride it. He soon returns after going right round to the other gap.

"Anita's next," Kaia says pushing Anita towards the bicycle

"Alright," Deon says getting off the bicycle, he held the seat and handlebar, steadying it for her

Anita stares at it. Another push from Kaia and she finds her legs carrying her forward. She grasps the handlebar and starts to mount the bicycle which started to lean towards Deon. Dean comes to assist him by holding the other side of the handlebar.

"We'll hold it for you," Dean said kindly, both boys keeping their hands on the bicycle

Anita is in a standing position as she is too short to reach the paddles from the seat. She begins to paddle, moving the bicycle forward. It starts to wobble.

"Wanna try on your own?" Deon asks

Anita shakes her head afraid that as soon as the boy lets go she will fall.

"Try to keep your body straight while riding," Dean says, he and Deon release the handlebar but keep their hands on the seat.

Anita nods and starts paddling again, keeping her back as straight as it would let her. The bicycle still wobbles but she paddles on. She is nearing the top of the gap when she looks back and notices that the boys are no longer holding the bicycle seat.

In a panic, Anita wobbles and falls to the side. The other children rush over to where she is, removing her from under the bicycle. She suffered a small abrasion on her left knee and elbow. Bea and Dean supported her on either side, helping her to walk back down the gap to her house.

"I'm sorry Anita," Dean says as they got closer, "We shouldn't have let go"

"Yes, she could have been seriously injured" Bea scolds him, knocking on the door

It swings open, revealing Anita's mother standing with her hand on her hip. She peers down at them seeing her daughter Anita.

"I fell," Anita says

"Get inside the house," Mother says

Anita is released and she goes inside, saying bye to the others.

Word Count: 836

Date Completed: 8/17/2021

Contest: New Skills

Type: Short Story