The Pedal Swing

I trotted down the front steps into the warm driveway and stopped right beneath a parked bicycle. Its wide black rubber pedal hung at just the right height for a daring jump! I bunched my legs and bounded straight upward, landing both of my blue clogs squarely on the outer edge. Whoosh—the crank swung under my weight in a dizzy little half-turn! My clogs skittered across the raised rubber treads to keep purchase, but I threw my arms wide, leaned into the tilt, and rode the spin until it smoothly leveled out. Aha! Perched firmly up here, the silver wheel spokes gleamed around me like giant sunbeams, and I let out a bouncy chuckle.