Shifting Gears by Sarah Kohnle

Author:Sarah Kohnle [Kohnle, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Astraea Press, LLC
Published: 2014-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Raindrops chased each other down the windowpane over the kitchen sink. Meg rinsed out her coffee cup and returned it to the cabinet. Because the forecast called for a day of solid drizzle Meg planned to skip training and shop with Christy.

At ten, the doorbell rang. But instead of Christy on her front porch, there stood Duda, smiling in the rain.

“Did we have plans? Did I forget about something?” Meg asked.

“The rain led me to a great idea,” Duda said. “But I must warn you. You might hear from friends at church.”

Meg shrugged. “I’ve gotten so used to being called crazy. They all think I’m nuts. The thought I was dating you was easier for them to digest than the idea I was taking this bike trip. To be honest with you, people don’t know how to act around me. When Robert started getting sick, really sick, people scurried away. They were there in the beginning, always coming around with food and things. And at the end, after he died. But no one was there, you know what I mean?” Meg clapped once. “Enough about that. Why are you here?”

“Meg, everything okay over here? I was working on the gutters,” Mr. Halverson appeared right behind Duda on the porch.

“Everything’s fine, fine,” Meg said. “This is Duda. Duda, Mr., uhm, George.”

Duda pumped Mr. Halverson’s hand. He held up two yellow packages. “Presents for Meg and Josh,” he said.

“Okay then,” Mr. Halverson muttered and stepped off the porch. Meg motioned for Duda to enter.

“The man can be a little territorial,” she said.

“No bother. Look, rain suits for you and Josh. The shop is checking out this brand, and we need hamsters. They’re supposed to be breathable, so you stay dry inside and outside.”

“Guinea pigs and you want us to go cycling now?” Meg sputtered. “But I’m not training today. Christy and I are going shopping.”

“How are you going to reach your goal if you don’t make some sacrifices?” Duda opened the packages and laid out the suits on the back of the couch.

A loud sigh slipped out of Meg. “In the rain, really?”

“Really,” Duda said.

Meg phoned Christy to cancel the plans, but promised she’d make it up to her. The minute she hung up, Duda was at her elbow. “Training takes discipline. Besides, have you ever ridden in the rain?”

“Not intentionally.”

“Then you must. On the trip, can you just stop when it rains? No, because your trip could stop for long time. Where’s Josh?”

Meg thumbed toward his room upstairs. “First door on the left. Go get him if you want. I’m not.”

Duda bounded up the stairs and soon returned with Josh.

“And Duda is here because?” Josh glared at Meg and rubbed his eyes with his fist.

“Don’t look at me. I had my own plans.”

Duda butted in. “Today you and your mom are going to get a lesson about riding in the rain.”

“You got me out of bed for this? Duda, c’mon, who doesn’t know how to ride in the rain?”

“This will be good, just wait.

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