The crunch
of gravel
beneath the beaten bike.
Every other jingle and jangle
of the broken brake
echoes across the small lake,
steam rising
into the cool morning air.
Clouds overhead confirm
the day’s predicted weather
and my hot breath
floats across the road.
Passing the house on the corner,
I grab the jingling brake
to silence it
and taking one last breath
I hold it.
I slowly bike by,
my heartbeat booming
in my ears and
I fear it will give
away my location.
A short rustle
and from the corner
of my eye I see the dog
bound over the six-foot-tall fence.
I let my breath out in a scream
and it pierces the silent morning.
I can feel the dog’s hot breath on my heels
and I can hear his panting as if right behind my ears.
I look over my shoulder
and the dog trots back to his territory.
Back to do his business in the dewy grass
and back to his warm dog house.
I let go of the break
that’s still in my hand.
I hear it ding
on the frame and
the crunch
of gravel
beneath the beaten bike.