Page 30 - Publishing Inspiration Christmas Card 2014

the fence near where the dumpster was sitting.

Just before our meeting started, one of the

other young men came in. “You wouldn’t
believe what I saw out back,” he said. “It has to

be the world’s ugliest bike. Someone put it by

the dumpster. Apparently, they wanted to
throw it away but couldn’t get it up in, so I did.”

My heart started to pound. As I ran to save

my bike, I heard Martin laughing as he called
after me, “Howard, it is that ugly!”

I climbed into the dumpster and lifted my
bike out. By the time I climbed back out

myself, my clothes were less than sanitary. I

dropped to the ground, turned around, and there
was the whole group. Martin had led them out

to see my bike.

“Howard, don’t tell me you ride that bike,”
the guy that threw it away said.

“It’s not that ugly,” I replied.
Martin nodded. “It is that ugly.”

Later that week, Martin and I were out

working. A little child, who was about eight
years old, came up to me. “Hey, Misser, did

you buy dat bike or steal it?” he asked.

“I bought it,” I replied.

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