Writing for Fun
March 2016
Rock Bottom - Joan Bond
Terry hadn't had much of a life, he was one of six kids and being the eldest always had to help with the little ones. I suppose in one way he was lucky, being the eldest he had first go at the clothes, when new, and even a few toys to himself at first.
He was a bright kid when he got the chance and loved getting out on his old bike, got a bit fed up with always having to repair his inner tube though, the rough paths up the country trails went through them every week and there was no money for new ones. At twelve he got a paper round at old Combos grocers and he loved it, got him out of getting the little ones ready for school and if it took him long enough, and he made sure that it did, he didn't have to take them to school either.
One of his drops was a little out of the village and one morning as he pushed the paper through, a young man opened the door resting on crutches. He explained to Terry that he had had a fall and couldn't get out to the shops; was there any chance of bringing him a couple of things with the paper each morning, he would make it worth his while and looking at the carrier on the back of the bike Tel thought he could manage it.
For the next few weeks he left bread and milk and gradually a few more items according to the list left out on the step each day.
Next week when calling for the money the guy noticed the state of the bike Terry used and said, 'I have a bike in the garage you can have. I don't ride it anymore. Go through and see if it's any good to you.' Well he trotted down the passage to the back door and in the garage was – and he couldn't believe his eyes – a Claud Butler, good as new. He felt his heart would burst, then realised this couldn't be the one and looked around for the junky one, but this was it. The young man introduced himself as Tom and said how grateful he had been and he was welcome to have it.
Terry rode it home carefully, he wouldn't let anyone else see it as they would all want to ride it and this was his, his!
He would gradually get to know Tom better, a school teacher who loved the hills and, also climbing mountains, who helped him with his maths and encouraged him to join the cycling club which he could do with a great bike.
They stayed friends through the school years and he was even asked to Tom's wedding, still loving the cycling and walking; then Tom suggested he try climbing, he was going on a weekend to the Lake district and they could try some of the peaks. It was really hard going for Terry as you seem to use different muscles on a cycle, but when he reached the top of Scarfell he couldn't believe his eyes at the beauty of the view.
He had a wonderful time for years, climbing every mountain he could reach, until at sixty years old he was tiring and, missing his foothold, he fell. He had seen the world, reached all the peaks but as he went hurtling down he was happy he had done everything he wanted, but then thought, 'Oh Shit!' He knew this time he was really going to reach the Rock Bottom.