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Mayer and the Borrowed Bike

Ages 6-9 | Story and 9 activities

Mayer's cousin Eli has the most beautiful bike in the world.

It is shiny and green, with a silver bell and a basket on the front. When Mayer's family comes to visit for Succos, Eli says, "You can ride it if you want."

"Really?" Mayer's eyes light up.

"Just be careful. I just got it."

"I'll be super careful."

Mayer wheels the bike down the front path and climbs on. It feels smooth, nothing like his old rusty one. He pedals down the sidewalk, ringing the bell, feeling like a king.

He rides to the end of the street and back. Then he rides a little faster. At the corner, he sees a small hill with a gentle slope.

"I'll just go down once," he says to himself.

He pedals harder. The bike picks up speed. The wind rushes in his ears. It is thrilling, until the front wheel hits a crack in the sidewalk and wobbles. Mayer yanks the handlebars. The bike swerves and tips sideways. He tumbles onto the grass, and the bike clatters down beside him.

For a moment, he lies there, breathing hard. His knee stings. But he gets up and runs to the bike.

On the side, there is a long scratch in the green paint, and the bell has been knocked off.

Mayer's stomach turns cold. "Oh no. Oh no, oh no."

He picks up the bike and the little silver bell. He thinks about leaving the bike behind a bush and pretending he's never ridden it. But he knows that won't be right.

He wheels it back slowly, his knee bleeding a little. Eli is waiting on the porch.

"Eli," Mayer says, and his voice shakes. "I fell. I scratched your bike, and the bell came off. I'm so sorry."

Eli looks at the scratch. His mouth tightens. For a moment, Mayer thinks he'll yell. Then Eli takes a breath.

"Are you okay? Your knee is bleeding."

"I'm okay. But your bike."

"It's just a scratch," says Eli. "I'm glad you're not hurt."

Zaidy comes out with a bandage. "Mayer, thank you for telling Eli the truth. That's the right thing."

"I want to fix it," says Mayer. "Can I?"

"We can try," says Eli. "Let's see if the bell screws back on."

They sit on the porch step. Zaidy finds a small screwdriver. Together, they reattach the bell. It rings with a clear little ding. The scratch stays, but Eli puts a sticker over it, a yellow star.

"Now it's special," says Eli.

"I'll save my allowance and buy you a new bell cover," says Mayer.

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

Eli's mother hears the story later and shakes her head with a smile. "A scratch and a bell," she says. "That's a small price for such a big lesson. And you both handled it like gentlemen." Mayer stands a little taller.

That week, Mayer gives Eli a small shiny star sticker pack from his own money. Eli grins. From then on, whenever Mayer borrows something, he handles it as if it were made of glass. And he always gives it back better than he finds it.