Dad

 Tom had bought Tony the dirt bike for his birthday. Tony had turned 14 and Tom had wanted to get closer to his stepson. The pressures of having a new step dad as well as the pressures of just being a teenager had made their relationship difficult. Tom understood but it still frustrated him that Tony would not let him help him. Tony wasn’t as athletic as Tom was, but he was still interested in all the sports. Tom had been Captain of the football team in high school. Quarterback of course. Baseball was another love. Tony was more into noncompetitive sports like skateboarding. He had to argue with Megan, Tony’s mother about giving him the gift.

“He’ll get hurt on that thing!”

“Let the boy grow up some”

“He’s only 14”

“High time for having some fun”

In the end, they agreed but Megan had insisted on including all the protective gear including shin guards and a helmet.

If Tom had been hoping for magic he was soon disappointed. Tony had been polite and had thanked him but the bike sat in the garage for over a month. Nothing changed in their relationship. Tony grunted his replies like any teenage boy. They lived in the same house but they certainly weren’t family.

Another hard week at work. He played dad there too. Being foreman to a bunch of kids who thought that they knew everything was frustrating. Hell, it made him scream sometimes. At least it was Friday he thought as he pulled into the driveway. Sitting quietly in the corner of the garage sat that dirt bike.

“I bet it’s fast.” Tom whispered.

He slowly approached it. Faster than the one he had as a kid he thought. He pulled his work gloves from his pocket and pulled them on. Tom’s heart picked up a beat. He glanced around and saw nobody was around. Somebody has got to try this baby out, he thought. It started with one kick. Racing the two stroke engine left a cloud of exhaust in the garage and a deafening echo. Tom was sure the whole neighborhood could hear him. One spin through the field behind the house. That’s all. One spin.

He backed the bike out of the garage and popped it into first gear. Man this thing had power. Around the side of the house he buzzed and picked up speed as he clicked up into second gear. Got to hit that hill with some speed. Gunning the throttle he geared into third just as he hit the bottom of the small hill separating his lawn with the field. He was airborne, baby. Aaah, the freedom! The exhilaration. This was living. Tom forgot about everything else as he relieved his childhood and cut sharp corners kicking dirt across the field. Posting his left leg he laid a circle patch on the ground and watched dirt and grass spray everywhere. This baby could really fly. Once more around the field and past some pine trees growing along the fence line. What a stress reliever. As Tom’s heart settled down he looked towards the house and saw Tony standing there watching him. The kid is probably pissed that I took his bike without asking. He slowed the bike and edged across the lawn to where Tony was standing and turned the motor off.

Tony looked at him wild eyed and said,

“Dad… that was awesome. Can you show me how?”