Memoir

I could smell last nights rain mingling with the sweet scent of the nearby pine trees. The damp ground felt soft underfoot and the breeze cool on my face. Shaky fingers reached out to take the helmet, before fastening it on my head. I walked towards the majestic beast, and courageously mounted its broad back. My thumb searched for the electric start button and found success, but putting it into gear was a different story. Mum approached and did it for me. I took a deep breath and placed my right hand on the throttle and my remaining hand on the brake. The drone of the motorbikes engine filled the air, as I gently eased the throttle back...

I was riding. Sure, I was going slow and my hand wouldn't leave the brake, but I was actually riding. Adrenaline buzzed through my veins, as I unconsciously pulled the throttle back further. I looked behind me and saw the mud fly out from under my back wheel, landing several metres away. I had never felt this free before. All my worries seemed to disappear, as I made it go faster still. My speed ate up the ground, and soon I was approaching the first corner. I slowed down, but only slightly. The corner came and went like it wasn't even there. I zipped along and it seemed too soon that the next corner was already upon me, and I could see my family up ahead. I rounded the last bend in the track and was disappointed to see that there was only twenty metres left. I never wanted this to end.

I pulled up beside my family, and shut the bike off. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes," I replied, surprised that my grin hadn't already given that away.

"Would you do it again?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."