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I Miss My Childhood

A day in 1977. It is a breezy weekend morning. The first thought in my mind is - I know it would be there, parked at the side of the blue railings. The kitchen smells of soya bean. Mom has made soya bean milk again. I gulp it down quickly, not finishing it before running out of the house in my long pants and slippers to see the old iron horse. Its body is black and there is a metal seat behind. I push it through the cobbled floor out the main gate. I will it to keep silent as it clatters along reluctantly. My mind is set. My heart is pounding. I could not wait.

It is just me, the old iron horse and the big wide road in front of me. The guava tree whispers to me to 'get on it'. I climb the rickety skeleton but my legs are not long enough. I slip my right leg below the horizontal rib of the old creature. It is awkward and I know my long pants could get caught in the oily gear chains. I did not let it deter me. I throw caution to the wind. I push using my left foot and the creature gives a clang of protest. I keep at it, balancing its head firmly with my hands. It wobbles from side to side. The old creature starts to cooperate and soon, to my exhilaration, my foot gets off the ground. The wind brushes past my face, the creepers and trees on my left seem to laugh, the factory on my right stands morosely watching. I am flying! And all the way towards the workers' canteen, past the office with the blue door and eerie round window, the sloping cargo takeoff point, all the way to the wonderful Indian Gate.

I must have been at it for hours. Or it could have been another morning or evening. Sis is shouting for me to stop. I smile at her and although I have no blinking idea how to do it, I would show her I could since the takeoff was relatively speaking, a piece of cake. I clutch the brakes and as I do so, the old creature slows down. In my mind, I seem to know that at this point of landing, something has to touch the ground and in that moment of revelation, I realise with horror that it has to be my two feet. My left leg comes down efficiently enough. In that frozen moment that my right leg tries to extricate itself from in between the two rigid bars, the old horse starts to go round in circles. Panic swirls in my mind. The crazy beast starts to draw concentric circles in the ground, each smaller than the previous one and before I know it, we collapse in a wretched heap on top of each other. Sis laughs hysterically now.

That moment I learnt to fly with the old iron horse is hard pressed into my mind. One moment of happiness I would never forget.
TheotherAndy · 41-45, M
Lovely story :)
JustNik · 51-55, F
I wish you'd put these in a book. ❤🤗
novembermoon · 51-55
Thank you for reading 😊
Serenitree · F
@novembermoon: yes. An Ebook. Make some money from giving so much pleasure, and reach so many more people.

Feb. 27/17
7:50 am
EST
Serenitree · F
Wow! I was with you throughout that ride. You paint a vivid picture with your words. Well done. Exhilarating story. Thank you.

Jan. 29/17
9:06 pm
Serenitree · F
@novembermoon: it is a well written piece, worth the couple of minutes it takes to read. I hope you will put it as your feature story on your profile, for a while. More people should get the opportunity to see it, and they disappear off the general feed, so quickly.

Jan. 29/17
9:13 pm
novembermoon · 51-55
@Serenitree: thank you. I have only just learnt about 'feature story'. Will do so.
Serenitree · F
@novembermoon: 👍🏻
room101 · 51-55, M
you are an amazing writer
Serenitree · F
@novembermoon: you have a gift. Do you teach English? Creative writing, perhaps? If not, you could consider it as a part time career, after you retire, at some local college, evening courses. I bet you're a great teacher. Your have such a wonderful way with words.

Feb. 27/17
7:59 am
EST
novembermoon · 51-55
@Serenitree: yes, I teach English. Marking exam scripts now and taking a breather. 😊
Serenitree · F
@novembermoon: 👍👌
I join you heartily in your joyous moments, NM.
👍
Quite emphatic an expression!
novembermoon · 51-55
👭🚲🚲🌴🌴🌺🌺
@novembermoon: The thought of looking for all these emoticons to send my way is just priceless. I treasure this thought, NM.

Bests.
novembermoon · 51-55
@Silentspectator: I appreciate you and your kindness, my fren. Thank you.
Wraithorn · 51-55, M
You hearted one of my stories so I thought I would see if I could return the favour.
This story is definitely worth a heart. Thanks for sharing this moment in time captured in your mind.
novembermoon · 51-55
@Wraithorn was looking for a cure for eczema. Glad to have found your post!
Wraithorn · 51-55, M
@novembermoon If you try it out then by all means let me know how that works out. It's such a simple plant but so very useful.
novembermoon · 51-55
@Wraithorn thanks for the info on the Aloe Vera. Eczema can really affect one's quality of life.
Cierzo · M
Reading this again. Your ability to make an everyday event sound like the greatest adventure surprises me all the time.
Oster1 · M
Nice story.....you have a special way with words:)
novembermoon · 51-55
@Oster1 thank you. You're very kind.
Oster1 · M
@novembermoon And you are very creative and talented.......I like you:)
Oh, your writing is beautiful... I was whisked away, as you were, on your bike!! Thanks for sharing this, very fun to read!! :) You have a talent.
novembermoon · 51-55
@lovelywarpedlemon Thank you 😊 for going with me in my memories.
dubkebab · 51-55, M
I had a bike I called 'Iron Horse ' also -but I am not nearly as poetic.

Your writing is very believable,we get little essences from random details.
novembermoon · 51-55
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your comments. @dubkebab
CCMorgan · 51-55, M
I love wonderful writing, and this gets top marks. SO well done... with lovely and vivid imagery... you place the reader in your world. Bravo! 👏🌹🚲☺️
novembermoon · 51-55
Thank you so much for taking time to read my story 😊@CCMorgan
Cierzo · M
Another amazing story. For me, who never learnt how to ride a bicycle, it sounds like how to learn to drive a spaceship.
novembermoon · 51-55
I am drinking tea now and almost spit it out😂😂😂
SW-User
What a fabulous read..loved my bike too-the freedom all came back to me reading this! Thank you for sharing it Novy xx
Such a endearing memory...feels so nice to hear it from the perspective of a young child. 😍✨
novembermoon · 51-55
Thank you for taking time to drop by. It means a lot to me@Vivaci
@novembermoon Always love your posts, my dear friend! 😇 Thanks for sharing...😘🌸
SW-User
Beautiful story, beautiful play of words. I enjoyed reading. Thank you for sharing.☺
SW-User
This is amazing. I felt like I was there.
novembermoon · 51-55
Thank you for taking time to read it. @SW-User
SW-User
@novembermoon You are very welcome. You're a great writer.
Peaches · F
Wonderful story, thank you for sharing. 🤗⭐️
Mattypppants · 56-60, M
Well I miss some of mine but not all of it
SW-User
That was beautiful ☺️
novembermoon · 51-55
Thank you @SW-User
SW-User
Memories. ☺
kentex35 · 100+, M
Outstanding!
I could see myself in my first bike. It was a 26 inch balloon tires my right leg hooked over the cross bar after stopping the old used schwinn bicycle. Thanks for reminding me.

 
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