CHAPTER 1 Waiting to Ride Last period Science My teacher Mr Franks was standing up at the front of the class We’ll take the last part of the period to review for the test I started drawing bicycles in my notebook I had been riding my bike after school since I was in kindergarten As soon as I got home I ate a snack and then rode my bike until dinnertime I could ride my bike every day as long as I followed the safety rule always ride with a partner When I started fifth grade Mom gave me a cell phone I want you to keep this in your pocket at all times Andy she said 4
Thanks I said and then I put the phone in my pocket right away Turn it on first Andy Mom said laughing Oh right I said rolling my eyes My friend Josh had laughed too His mom worked in an office on the other side of town so he had gotten his own cell phone in third grade A new phone was no big deal to him but to me well it was a big deal I turned on the phone and the screen lit up I can help you set up your contacts said Josh Awesome I said Now that you’re in fifth grade you can ride without an adult Mom said Then she pointed at Josh You know the rule Josh smiled Always ride with a partner he said Josh lived across the street from me I had known Josh ever since I could remember He was in fifth grade just like me 5
I wasn’t allowed to ride my bike alone not in the hills behind my house anyway On the street in front of the house oh that was fine I went round and round the cul-de-sac Josh and I even had a ramp It was fun to ride up the ramp and jump into the air After we landed we circled back and did it again And again and again and again The ramp was fun but riding in the hills behind our house was so much better It wasn’t the same thing over and over Every jump was different and after you did the jump you didn’t have to go back and do it all over again You just kept riding to the next one and the next one Andy said a voice Care to join us It was Mr Franks I looked up and the whole class was staring at me Even Josh I didn’t want to get in trouble Not now It wasn’t windy and it wasn’t rainy It was a perfect day to ride 6
I’m sorry can you repeat the question I said looking at the teacher politely Mr Franks already knew I wasn’t paying attention I better be polite and apologize No need to get detention or extra homework because I was thinking about riding my bike 7
