Sleeping in the Sun by Joanne Howard

Author:Joanne Howard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press

CHAPTER 15

A week later, an oxcart came down their lane. Gene had watched it pull up in the late-morning light, the frangipani trees swaying overhead as he paused on his way to the latrine and caught the movement in the distance. Two men in simple white dress walked beside it, the cart itself too laden with objects to allow a seat. The ox ambled to the side as one of the men whistled, not at it but at the house, and Gene wondered if Arthur was around. Sure enough, he heard the shuffle of running feet in the dirt as Arthur jogged from some corner of the yard to the lane, calling in Bengali and waving a hand to come closer.

Gene decided he could wait a little while longer for the latrine and went after Arthur, glancing back to see if anyone else was coming. But the verandah was empty, everyone inside to wait out the day’s heat.

“Arthur, what is it?” he called. “What are they selling?”

But his voice hadn’t carried far enough, and Arthur continued to banter with the men, laughing and gesturing at the cart’s contents, patting the ox on the rump. As the cart pulled closer, Gene made out tires, spokes, and metal frames all polished and gleaming. Brand new bicycles, bought by the one person who could afford them.

Gene gasped despite himself. “Uncle Ellis!”

Arthur helped the men take the bikes down from the cart, wheeling one toward Gene to inspect. Gene shook his head as Arthur handed it over, as if in disbelief at the luxury of it. They only ever had rusted, donated bicycles from the mission, and this was by far the most extravagant thing to be in his possession.

Gene marveled at the workmanship, the soft rubber handles taking perfectly to his grip, the buttery leather seat curving elegantly. The body was painted a dark green, with a yellow RALEIGH logo spaced out across the chain guard. A large light was attached to the front, next to a shining chrome bell.

“Woohoo!” Gene couldn’t help his excitement at such a thing. And soon enough there were whoops coming from behind him as his brothers all rushed up the lane to see.

“It’s so sleek!”

“It’s new.”

“There’s another one in the cart!”

“Where’s mine?”

Gene gripped his handlebars tighter, anticipating his brothers taking it from him at any moment.

“Well, Lee and Gene, you can’t go on without a bike.”

“Uncle Ellis! You shouldn’t have.” Lee was quick to be modest. The judge wasn’t.

“Nonsense. I had to get you the latest after what happened.”

“How did you even get them?” Gene asked.

“Fellow at the club just had a shipment come in from England. I told him right away to set two aside for me.”

Gene didn’t know how to react to such an expensive gift. He relaxed his grip on the handlebars and lifted his eyes to meet the judge’s. “Thank you,” he said.

“The least I could do,” Ellis responded in a tone that was surprisingly heartfelt.

“But you said we’d get them back,” Gene said.

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