BIKE TRADE
I walk up and down
side lanes by the river
check paths along the banks
walk both sides of the bridge
and even stare down
into the murky water
I’ve gone halfway
to the police box
thinking to report
my missing bike
when I double back
with one last idea
that last idea
for where I might find my bike
being across the bridge
near Takemura’s
I search the shrubs
edging the pine tree park
where Shunta took us
that day to watch the fire
and there it is, still locked
standing upright
leaning on its kickstand
like I’d parked it there myself
I feel watched
as I fit my key in the lock
I feel spied on
as I kick up the stand
I try to act cool
as I ride away from the park
I decide to take the long way home
the back road that meanders
beyond the monorail
across the town line
but as I’m cutting over to that route
past the station’s rear parking lot
I glimpse the familiar flames
and lightning bolts of Shunta’s bike
I pedal past
telling myself
be cool
be smart
ride on
but I can’t help myself
I make a U-turn
I don’t carry his bike far
just to a small alley
two houses down
from the parking lot
then I pedal fast
out of that neighborhood
across the city line
on the way I stop to call home
and Cora answers
says Yūsuke just left
and that she got to have
my tutoring session
Mom gets on the phone
and says I’m in hot
hot water
I zigzag
through back lanes
and climb up the far
shoulder side
of the dragon hill
avoiding
the school
the park
the neighborhoods
by the streetcar
taking the long, safe way
to our house
I’m so late
that Mom’s yelling
when I open the front door
but she stops
when I tell her
about my temporarily
missing bike
now found
I don’t tell her
about the other temporarily
missing bike
found by now?
during dinner I learn that the police
questioned Mom further about the night intruder
and seem to believe it’s a kid from my school
but to Mom’s interrogation about who it might be
I insist I have no idea
I take an extra-long bath
wondering if
moving Shunta’s bike
was like
an aikido strike—uchi
or if
moving Shunta’s bike
was like
a defensive throw—nage
and I’m wondering
if I’ll have to quit school
like Daiki did
if I’ll have to
stay home
and never go out
later Cora climbs up to my bunk
and even though I turn to the wall
and tell her I don’t want to talk
she says she has our Gray agenda
all planned for the weekend
whatever it is I say
it better be
far away
on the other side of town
or in another city
or prefecture
or country
or universe
oh she says
and climbs down
then something lands on my back—
one of Gray’s friends
a stuffed raccoon
tossed up for me