A Gentle Spin

I walked down to the park trail early this morning and noticed a bicycle parked by the green bench. The front wheel was lifted just off the pavement. Curious, I stepped up to the slender metal spokes and gave the rubber tire a polite, firm push with both gloved hands. It spun smoothly with a quiet, rhythmic hum, the silver valve stem blurring into a neat circle. I stood close by, listening to the soft clicking of the hub until the wheel gradually settled back to a calm stop.