Chapter 16 - The Blue Bike Goes Away
The broken birthday bicycle remained in our shed because photographs and court issues had made everyone afraid to dispose of it.
One day Ethan saw it.
He froze.
“Why here?”
I realized we had turned evidence into a ghost.
I called attorney.
Photos sufficient.
Property case resolved.
No need retain.
I asked Ethan:
“What do you want to do with it?”
“Trash.”
“Want to watch?”
“No.”
“Want me to fix?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
I took it to recycling center.
No burning.
No speech.
No throwing it onto Dad’s car.
Metal into appropriate pile.
Done.
When I came home, Ethan was riding the orange bike in slow circles.
Laura sat on porch.
“He asked where you went.”
“What’d you say?”
“To get rid of blue one.”
“He said good.”
That was all.
Then Dad mailed a replacement bicycle to our house.
Blue.
Expensive.
No note except:
For Ethan.
I did not show Ethan immediately.
I called therapist.
Dr. Grant:
“Does accepting it create obligation?”
“No.”
“Does returning it protect boundary?”
“Possibly.”
“What do Ethan’s parents want?”
Return.
We sent it back.
Dad emailed:
You punish him to punish me.
I did not reply.
The orange bicycle cost half as much.
Ethan loved it.
May you like
Value was never issue.
Consent was.
