WHITE BICYCLE - Hüseyin YURTTAŞ
WHITE BICYCLE
- Daddy, please
buy me a bicycle.
- Okay son, I will.
- Oh, really, will
you? Then why you stay daddy?
- I will buy it,
but first pass your class, and then…
- Promise daddy?
- Sure! What do
you think? All you need is to pass your class. All right?
- All right daddy!
I had prayed my
father formerly many times. He had always rejected my request. He was against
it saying, "you may fall down, we don't have any money, we'll buy next
year, etc." When I heard the words above from him I walked on air from
happiness. I would do anything but pass my class without any make-ups. It was
nearly the end of the term. And my grades were not so bad. But still I devoted
myself wholeheartedly to working. I lessened playing outwards. I didn't turn
on my computer. I didn't even watch anything other than one or two programs
that interested me the most.
This change in
my behaviors pleased both my parents. I understood it from their looks and talks
with each other in whispers. My teacher as well noticed the change in me. But
I didn't say anything about the bicycle to her.
It was springtime.
Everywhere was green. Those nice, sunny days have begun long since. I was anxiously
counting the days for the end of the term. At the same time I was wandering
in the shops in the neighborhood and looking at the bicycles. Almost all of
the bicycles seemed pretty to me. But there was one that I liked the most. It
was a white bicycle. We were to go and buy this white bicycle when I get my
report card. Even thinking about it was exciting me so much. But there was a
very important problem; I didn't know how to ride bicycle! In fact, wasn't it
the reason for my father's opposition formerly? Didn't he say all the time,
"I wouldn't mind the bicycle but feel pity for you; you may fall down,
and hurt yourself?"
Then, now it was
the time to learn riding bicycle, I thought on it all the time when studying
or resting. I was to start it at once.
It was Saturday.
I went to the park in the afternoon. Almost all of my friends were there. And
some of them owned bicycles. They were riding their bicycles on the cobblestoned
paths of the park. And Okan was one of them. He was really riding well. He could
do any figures with the bicycle. When he noticed me watching him, he let me
sit at the back. We toured the park twice. Meanwhile I said Okan:
- Did you know?
They will buy me a bicycle as well. But I don't know riding. Would you teach
me?
- Sure, I would.
But it is so crowded here. And these stones would hurt your knees if you fall
down. Let's go over there, to that dirt road.
Then he rode the
bicycle there at once. In a short time we were at the dirt road at the end of
our quarter.
It was my first
time on the saddle of a bicycle and holding the handlebars. I was so excited.
Both my hands and foot were trembling. Okan was holding at the back.
- Come on; push
the pedals.
I pushed my feet
on the pedal forward and lifted my other feet and put it on the other pedal.
The bicycle moved forward. But it was only a few steps way that I lost my balance
and fell down. Okan didn't have power enough to hold me.
We repeated these
trials a few times. Indeed, I was over excited. I thought I would always fall
down and never learn riding. My hopes were frustrated as I continued falling
down again and again in our training that lasted almost one hour. Moreover,
I was cautious not to damage Okan's bicycle. I couldn't go on and stopped.
- "Okan,"
I said, "thank you so much. You see; I can't do it. Besides we'll hit and
damage your bicycle in vain."
- "Never mind,"
said Okan, "it's not important. Did you know? My father is not like other
fathers. He likes my sharing all my belongings and toys with my friends. He
is such an unfamiliar man."
- "You are
so as well," I said. "But what we do is wrong. The best thing to do
is making practice when my bicycle is bought. You would help me then."
- "As you
like it," said Okan.
We gave up training
and returned to the park. I was annoyed with myself when I saw children, even
those smaller than me, were riding bicycles easily.
I worried on this
subject till the day my school was closed down. Sometimes my hopes were frustrated
completely. At those moments I even changed my mind about buying a bicycle.
But when I dreamed myself riding the bicycle speedily and my shirt got billowed
in the wind like those other children, I perceived I would never give up buying
it. I could learn it as all do. Only way was to try my hardest and work.
Finally, it was
the last day of school. I was bursting with excitement. We, all my classmates,
made a trip to the hill nearby the school. We entertained, sang songs, played
games, and ran around, jumped up and down.
When we returned
to school, our teacher after a short farewell speech gave our report cards.
When it was my turn to get my report card I could virtually hear my heart beating
in my ears. I looked at that dotted place at once I got my report card. With
handwriting it was written: "PASSED" To tell the truth, I was so joyful
that I shrieked and bounded hither and thither.
We congratulated
each other. After saying farewell and wishing 'a good holiday' to each other
and to our teacher, we went to our houses. The sorrow for separation and happiness
of report cards were side by side.
That evening I
welcomed my father at the door. I gave him the news in jest, as I was prepared
before:
- Dad, I'm sorry.
- Nothing wrong,
I hope! You didn't fail, did you? Why are you sorry?
- I caused you
a heavy loss…
- Really! What
kind of a loss is this? You didn't break any glass when playing ball, did you?
- No, daddy, this
is really a heavy loss.
- I'm at my wits'
end sonny. I am tired. Say what it is. Whatever it is we will look a way to
solve it.
- I caused you
a loss worth a bicycle…
- I see. You imp,
you mean you passed your class… Why don't you say it directly…I got confused
without grounds.
My father embraced
me. He kissed and congratulated me.
- "Then tomorrow
morning we shall go and buy a bicycle to you."
- "But I want
that white bicycle."
- "Okay, then
we buy it."
I can't tell how
I passed that night. I even played kriegspiel in the computer so as to occupy
myself and pass the time; but time didn't pass quickly. Though I like this game,
indeed all computer games.
The next morning
we went to the bicycle shop with my father. I showed him the white bicycle.
- "Here",
I said, "I want it."
My father and the
shopkeeper laughed at me. Apparently my father has come and reserved it one
day ago.
The shopkeeper
congratulated and gave me the bicycle.
- "Well done,"
he said, "you see, you deserved it, and now you got it. Enjoy it!"
I thanked him.
We got the bicycle and left the shop. I wasn't riding on but pushing it right
beside me, and looking at it with admiration and adoration. The clanking sound
of its chain in clearance was so pleasant. I could see my face in its mirror.
I was intermittently ringing its pealing bell. There were some people looking
at us. I felt a secret happiness because of their looks.
We directly went
to that dirt road with my father. There were trees on both sides of the road,
and there were some bushes and blackberries. This solitary place was indeed
a good training place for me.
We at once started
practicing. My father was holding the saddle and running right behind to prevent
me fall down. At that moment Okan came as well.
- "May it
be easy," he said. "Enjoy it!"
My father was tired
of running behind me and was in a sweat: at that point Okan helped me. Then
both of them ran right behind me. They warned me:
- "Look forward
all the time. Don't afraid. Turn the tire to the side where you are as though
falling."
I was acting as
they say it. However, when I paid attention to my feet to push the pedals, I
couldn't drive straightly, and continuously falling down.
During this practice,
for a moment I felt that I was driving the bicycle. My father was not holding
me. I was driving by myself. But was I really driving the bicycle without anyone's
help? Wasn't there anyone holding me. I was so anxious that I wanted to look
back. Thus I lost the control. The bicycle suddenly went in other direction
into the blackberries at the side of the road. In a flutter of panic I couldn't
succeed in applying the brakes. I suddenly found myself in the blackberries.
My father and Okan came my side in a hurry. They slowly and softly took me out
of the thorns of the blackberries with great care. But still I had scratches
on my hands, face and head. My hands and face were covered with blood.
After the first
moments of bewilderment we roared with laughter. My pains were not trivial,
but I didn't cried, on the contrary I laughed loudly. My father said:
- "Well, it
is all right. Now there is nothing to afraid of. Because it was the worst thing
to occur when learning how to ride a bicycle, and it occurred!… I suppose you
wouldn't fall worse."
When I was resting,
Okan went with his bicycle and brought cotton and plaster. We cleaned the wounds
on my face and hands where blackberry thorns scratched and pricked and then
covered with plasters. I looked at my face in the mirror of the bicycle. At
that moment it occurred to me that my mother would get angry with my father
and me. Really, my face covered with the plasters was very funny.
No, it wouldn't
dismay me! We again started working. Now, each time I could ride a longer distance
without anyone's help. I got into a happy mood. I could even speed up without
fear.
However, the worst
occurred with my encounter with that simit seller kid why for walking in that
dirt road. The kid who understood that I was a novice rider stopped at the midst
of the road with his tray on his head and opened his arms with a grin on his
face. He was supposedly joking. I drove first to the right and then to the left;
then I didn't find out but bumped him such that I wish you saw us! I fell to
one side; he fell to the other, and the tray and simits to the other side. The
simits were scattered on the ground, on the grass at the side of the road.
My father and Okan
at a run came near us. The simit seller kid and I stood up. We tidied up our
clothes. We didn't tell him off. Because he was aware of the cost of his joke.
He was gathering his simits quietly. When I lifted up my bicycle and examined,
I saw there were no damages; I became happy.
And that was my
last fall. Since then with every day passed I became more skilled in riding
bicycle.
Now? Hoohah, don't
stay in my wind, you would catch cold… Now I can do acrobatics like those other
children; but I always conform to the traffic rules. I protect myself and anyone
around.
My white bicycle
is unique! I love it so much!
Hüseyin YURTTAŞ