On Monday night, Emily told Cindy what had happened on Rugby Road. To her surprise, Cindy took it very calmly, apologizing for having been so selfish over the weekend when Emily first came back to the room. Continue reading
Mariana signalled a stop at the overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway and swung off her bike. Emily caught the move in her peripheral vision only because she was looking at the same thing. She did a U-turn and joined the group. Continue reading
On their way back to Hancock Drive, Emily showed Cindy the Aquatic and Fitness Center and pointed out the dining halls and bus stops. The crowd of families and newcomers had thinned considerably by the time they walked up to the second floor. The Resident Assistants were taking a break in the little lounge at the end of the hall. Emily and Cindy introduced themselves. Continue reading
That same Monday after lunch, Emily rode out Avon Street to Community Bikes on the south side of Charlottesville. She took her Bianchi Volpe and wore her touring bicycle kit. Continue reading
Friday morning, Hilda heard the coffeemaker gurgling and spitting in the kitchen. She opened her eyes and smiled. Jack’s hard body fit her back like a glove.
She could not think of a better way to start her day. Continue reading
Emily dragged Mark’s father over to the van. “I believe you two already know each other.”
“Jumping Jack Rathburn!” Jim Dempsey gave Jack a warm handshake and a pat on the arm. “You’re none the worse for wear.” Continue reading
Emily and Hilda stood in the sunshine outside the store in White Hall. They finished their Magnum Dove Bars, put the wrappers in the trash, and took swigs from their bike bottles. Hilda swung smoothly onto her bicycle throwing her right leg over the saddle and coasted to a halt to watch Emily put her leg over her top tube and slide to a position straddling her bike. With some wobbling, she got rolling and picked up speed. Hilda waved her on and rode up alongside as they headed back toward Charlottesville on the TransAmerica Trail. Continue reading
Friday evening, Hilda rode to Brandywine Drive. The flowers and bright green leaves were reaching their peak in the heat of the late spring. Soon, just crossing town like this would be a sweaty affair, even with the shady tree cover of the Greenbrier neighborhood. Continue reading
Hilda switched on Channel 29 News while the coffeemaker gurgled on the counter top. She didn’t watch much TV, but she would rather let Dave Rogers tell her what the weather would be than look it up on her computer. She assembled a three-egg omelette as the commercials droned on. She was not really paying attention, but she noticed that the commercial had been interrupted for breaking news. Continue reading
“It’s just above freezing, Emily. I can drive you to school.” The kitchen was bright with the sunlight reflecting from the winter wonderland in the back yard.
“I’ll ride the long way around, Mom. It’s clear all the way, and there is plenty of room on Rio Road and the John Warner Parkway to avoid any frozen puddles.” Emily finished her breakfast and started clearing the table. Continue reading
