ghbors headlights they left on so you can your friends can keep riding, and the bonfire the neighborhood is having because it’s summer. You turn onto the road next to where your parents are standing, not fully paying attention. You face forward just in time to notice the car parked in the road that wasn’t there before, but not in time to stop. You panic, forgetting the bike has handle brakes. You smash into the back bumper at the same time you realize that it’s a police car. The officer is currently talking to the group of adults asking them to make sure the kids have helmets because the neighbors not invited are complaining. You are not wearing a helmet. Everyone is silent as they watch you slowly scoot the bike backwards and turn it around. Everyone is still silent as you absolutely hoof it away from the group of adults and the officer, convinced your ass is grass. You’re down the road before you can hear the cop laughing his ass off, telling your mother he didn’t even feel it, just heard a thump. You don’t ride a bike for the next month.
