Scoot!

It was a lazy sunny holiday,

A treat for myself in the final days of my army contract.

I could have gone anywhere I wanted, all I had to do was ask and they would send me, they owed me so.

Instead I fell off the radar and limped around asia with my backpack and a wad of greenbacks.

It was the days of the Tsunami aftermath, I figured I would see how some parts were recovering.

It was surprising how fast the locals had recovered, the roads were all cleared, the shops rebuilt and the bars re liquored.

The only testament of the killer waves' passing was the ruined carcass of a once beach from McDonalds fenced off from the rest of the beach. It seemed that it was a management decision not to rebuild until they were completely certain the Tsunami was an "Act of God".

I remember standing in front of the shop trying to chose between the racing bike and the black scooter, and going for the "safer" option in my head. "Men that limp should not ride bikes that can go 200 km/h" i remember telling myself.

So I puttered around that place in a shiny black honda scooter, puttered being a relative statement of course.

Much later when I returned to civilization, Bo Grosso and I concurred that going at 60 on a scooter, feels like doing 100 in a car.

My little black scooter used to hit 80km/h, Ahh those were the days.

I relived them as I stood in front of yet another shop, and I pointed at a little red scooter this time.

That one I said, the little red honda.

"You know, we've got dirt bikes and vespas too" started the
sales man.

Yes I knew, but seeing that lil red toy, just made me smile... and as I ran my hands over the frame, with all its rusty bits and faded paint, I could see it restored to its former glory.

"1985 huh?" I said as I prepared to get the price I had in my head, "looks like it needs a lot of work..."


Late that night, when I was sure no one would be around, I took a ride on a little red scooter, a 1985 honda nifty fifty.

No helmet, just like back then. tiny engine, just like back then. Roar of the wind & smiling like a baby bird that just found its wings again, just like back then.


________

Epilogue

A few days later I was back at the shop handing the keys back the salesman.

"Not safe enough" I told him, it simply can't keep up with traffic.

Truth is, I knew that when I bought it. I had intended to fix up that little motor to be as powerful as the one from the black scooter, but somewhere during that late night ride, I jsut realized... I can't be bothered anymore.

So there I was, handing the keys back.

Its time for something new,
I'll know it when I see it.