“There’s
nothing to eat” June grumbled as she peered inside the refrigerator. The only
response was a muffled grunt from the bedroom. Not satisfied with this
response, June walked over and slid open the bedroom door. She watched as Mina
did her daily exercises on a camping mat in the small space between their beds.
“Hey,” June
paused, trying hard not to let the smile on her face seep into her voice “are
you working out your toes?”
“Ehhhh?” Mina reached for the air and did
one last sit up. “Douyu imi?”
“When you
exercise, all of your effort is in your toes.” She couldn’t hold in the
laughter anymore “Kawaii!”
Mina stood up and rolled up her
camping mat before she retorted, “well when you exercise your effort goes to
face, like kore” she squatted down
into an electric chair position and scrunched up her face. “Now what did you
say about the food?” she said, face turning red with effort.
June burst out laughing at the
accuracy of Mina’s retort. “No food,” she managed, “all gone!”
Mina looked down in thought until
an idea unstitched her brow. “Hey we can bike to the ramen shop a few blocks
that way. I saw they have some Nihon shu!”
“That sounds great,” June started,
“except, I can’t ride a bike.” She looked at Mina sheepishly.
The camping mat hit the group. “Hontoni?”
“Yes, really. Have you ever read
Calvin and Hobbes?” This was a well-rehearsed excuse for June. She didn’t pause
for a response, “I’m Calvin and the bike is a monster that is just out to hurt
me. Bikes attack me when I’m just standing by them. Seriously!”
Now it was Mina’s turn to laugh. “I
don’t know this book, but sounds funny. Okay, you can ride with me.”
The breeze was light as June sat
sidesaddle on the back of the bike. The light fabric of Mina’s skirt tickled
her shins as she tried her best to balance herself on the bike that could, at
any moment, rear up and take a bite out of her. She cringed at every bump on
the road that was going to throw her to her doom.
Barely a block away from their
house Mina hollered behind her, “Relax, you chicken!”
June realized at that moment that
she was gripping the seat so tightly her whole body ached. She took a deep
breath and tried to release the tension out of her body. Slowly she unknotted
each knuckle from the seat underneath her and sank into the rhythm of the ride.
She exhaled her fear and breathed in a host of new sensations. The wind rushing
by her was exhilarating. The steady motion of the bike was comforting. Together
with Mina they were a blur speeding through the dark. Mina could control the
beast so that June had nothing to fear.
They arrived at the ramen shop all
too soon.
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