We met in college, I only a short time out of Air force
I had no car hitchhiked across town
It took courage to ring the front doorbell
I had no dress up clothes in style
The bow tie clip on, black military horn rimmed glasses
The pants pin stripped much too formal
Shari opened the door her dad hidden behind her,
Grey paint stained sweatshirt and a baseball cap cocked
Fishing hooks attached, I was baited his first words reassuring,
"Hell, Shari, doesn't your boyfriend have dress up clothes"
T-Fred I would learn did not put on airs
Out front was the strangest vehicle I had ever seen
Masked somewhat as an Air stream camper with odd attachments
It came straight out of the Hill Billys sideshow
Bicycle racks fishing poles camping stoves I a city boy
Dad loved to fish and camp and had all the toys
The only thing missing was Susquatch and he might have been nearby
After dinner I was helping with the dishes Shari
tapped me on the shoulder, "The Men are outside doing men things"
I got the message and went outside Shari my buffer
She whispered, "Dad wants you to be impressed with his
new Honda "50" Japanese motor bikes" I stood by one,
"No Dandy, He wants you to try one out.
Now the last thing I rode was a World bike with chains
It was the sixth grade, "Just start the motor and act impressed"
I am six foot three I dwarfed the bike and pulled on the throttle
The next thing I knew the bike was walking out from under me
It headed straight for the six stairs walkway taking me with it
When I reached the bottom the front wheel jumped in the air
I was hanging on in the style Superman made famous flying
I heard her brother saying, "Wow, he was fooling us he can ride!"
I wanted to let go of the throttle but it was taking me into a parked car
Once clear I hit the brake and I was in front of the bike and flying
I knew eventually the bike would catch up and I was spoke bait
The Honda was coming after me I was in the mouth of the beast
T Fred came up looked at the breakage and smiled,a gleam
in his eyes I would later recognize. He wasn't angry he had something to fix,
"Shari, I think he well live, Get him a sweatshirt and jeans that fit
Thank God we have destroyed those ugly pinstriped pants"
I had four stitches but stayed for dessert Mom cleaning up the blood,
"Sharon later took me home, "I think Dad likes you. You didn't cry
when Great Grandma stitched you up. She has never done that before
She just stitches sweaters." I was more scared of her Dad than falling
from the bike and with eyes closed I didn't know who was stitching me