Spinning Class in a Brick Tunnel

Mr. Hertz had finally given up the ghost on the bike situation. He was never going to get back into his exercise routine and Mr. Lamb was bound to notice eventually that the bike was back to sitting in the basement of number 19, rusting away. In an act of good faith (and apology for using an expletive to describe her mother), Mr. Hertz bequeathed the bike to Lucy, who seemed to like staying in shape and eating healthy and a host of other wholesome, full-grain, gym-like things.

Lucy thanked him profusely for the bike, citing her love of spinning class as a reason why she was a good candidate for such a gift. Mr. Hertz went home pleased with himself and his act of charity as Lucy walked her bike down the street, presumably to find a good starting point for a ride.

Later in the day, Morty noticed Lucy walking around the neighborhood with the bicycle, happily waiving to neighbors and even, in a bizarre act of good faith, Giuseppe. Morty was left to assume that Lucy was simply returning from an invigorating bike ride.

Three days later, Everybody had noticed Lucy walking with the bike. Emery offered to take a ride with her, hoping to show off his excellent messenger-style riding skills, and was rebuffed. Liseli offered to borrow the bike for a quick jaunt and was told that Lucy just was not ready to part with it yet. One of the young punks suggested Lucy go to his bike guy and turn it into a fixie and Lucy balked at the suggestion that she deface such a perfect vehicle.

It was when Esther finally ran into Lucy and the bike several blocks from 17 Greenwich that some truths were finally discovered. “Honey, you’ve lived in this neighborhood your whole life. When would you have learned to ride a bike?”

Lucy faltered. “I never did.”

“So what, what are you doing with this thing?”

“I…I haven’t ridden it yet."

Immediately, Esther turned, indicating that Lucy should follow, and together they walked to the front of 17, buzzing an apartment. “Morty,” she howled. “Morty get down here. Stop napping.”

After a few minutes Morty was, if not bright eyed and bushy tailed, then at least present. “What’s so important?” he came out screaming. “What could be so important right this moment?”

“We’re teaching Lucy to ride a bike.”

At this, Morty perked up. “You know I taught my captain to ride a bike during the war. We were stationed near Paris, and in Paris you have to ride a bike. You put a baguette in your basket and you ride around town and pick up women. Subliminal messaging.”

Esther cackled. “What a let down you must have been.”

Grabbing the back of the bicycle, Morty instructed Lucy to sit and pedal slowly while he stabilized the bike. She followed her orders, hesitantly lifting her feet to the pedals. Morty dropped her immediately, just as Bean was exiting.

“Oh, a bike lesson. I can dig that. I had this awesome fixie in ’04. Red set. Totally custom – "

Morty cut him off. “Fascinating. Hold the back of the bike.”

Bean followed had more success than Morty with holding Lucy up, and Esther and Morty each took a side for safety. The three of them slowly helped Lucy pedal down the street. At the corner they ran into Jefferson, who took over holding the back of the bike so that Bean could focus on his role as the bike’s coxswain, shouting when Lucy needed to lean left or right. By the time Benjamin the renter came hobbling up, they were in need of somebody to relieve Esther, and he took over Lucy’s right side, offered balance tips from his days as a dancer. Eventually Aggie and Lidia found the team and followed behind, shouting loud at Bean that he was supposed to be out buying milk. Because of the noise, Mr. Lamb wandered over from Krispin’s and attempted to break up the ruckus by shouting above the chorus of voices, which drew Giuseppe’s attention. He meandered over from the construction site, shouting, “You can’t do it! You’re too old to learn to ride a bike, Luc-luc.”

That, it turned out, was all it took. As soon as Giuseppe was within site, Lucy knew it was time to strike out on her own. She drew a long breath then began to cycle fast, breaking away from Jefferson’s hold and finding herself riding a bike, alone, down a city street. There was wind in her hair, taxis speeding by, and slowly the neighborhood turned into one long brick tunnel.

Spinning class was over.