When I leave my house, I see this bicycle on the corner.
I see that it’s well-cared, showing signs, even by its model, of being a woman’s bicycle, but it’s alone, chained to the signpost by a cable with a padlock.
Its owner, as it seems, went away to do some errand, maybe even buy some medication at the drugstore across the street.
The bicycle, meanwhile, as a good companion, waits quietly, peacefully, till he or she returns.
It occurs to me that we may say that bicycles, like dogs, are men’s best friends.
They don’t demand much, which means we need little to keep them.
They have the capacity of, when we don’t give them much attention, remaining in a corner, always ready, though, to respond to us when we remember they’re around.
But, back to the bicycle, I liked it so much that I even considered waiting for its owner.
I wanted to congratulate him, tell him, “What a nice bicycle you have, so obedient!...”
But I was in a hurry.
I said bye to the bicycle and moved on.
A little ahead I looked back and noticed someone getting close to the bicycle.
Would it be a thief?!
While I stay watching the scene for some time, the person started to free the bicycle from the sign.
I tried to get closer to see better and only then, when I’m really close, I could see that it was a woman with a cap and tied hair.
I still tried to get even closer, intending to say something to her, but the moment was gone.
With the bicycle free, she set herself in motion with firm pedal strokes.
And, as she came towards me, I found out that not only was she a woman, as I had noticed from the distance, but she was also very attractive.
I almost jumped in front of her to say, “I’m a cyclist too!”, but it was too late.
She passed by without noticing me and quickly moved away, dropping out of sight.
A bit disappointed, I promised myself to look around more carefully next time I found a lonely bicycle waiting to be picked up.
Also, since then, I can’t help myself from peeking at the corner, just to check if the bicycle hasn’t come back again…
