To Moishy’s surprise, the little girl was actually riding in a straight line. But, oh dear! She was heading straight for the watermelons!

Bubby had bought her a two-wheeler! It was pink and shiny, and Miriam loved it more than anything. She didn’t really know how to ride a two-wheeler yet, but Moishy said he was going to teach her, and in the meanwhile, Miriam kept looking at and admiring her “big girl’s bike” 20 times a day.

The first night, the little girl actually wanted to take her new bike into bed with her. She couldn’t bear to part with it! In vain Moishy tried to dissuade her. In the end Mommy had to intervene, telling the little girl that the bike could be parked next to her bed instead, where she’d be able to look at it at night.

The next day, Mommy asked Moishy to go to Gavriel’s grocery store.

“Can I come wiv you on my new bike?” begged Miriam.

Moishy looked at her in surprise.

“But you can’t ride it yet,” he replied.

“So what? I can walk wiv it,” she answered.

C’mon! It’s going to take twice as long, thought Moishy to himself. But then he looked at his little sister’s pleading expression, and reluctantly agreed.

Miriam felt very grand accompanying Moishy to the store with her new bike. She walked most of the way, but every now and then she would get onto the bike and try pedaling, only to wobble wildly and climb off again. It was slow going, and Moishy — who just wanted to get to the store already — had to work hard to hide his impatience.

“When are you gonna teach me to ride properly?” asked Miriam.

“I dunno,” said Moishy. “Not now, that’s for sure.”

“One day I’m gonna be as fast as Fishel and Faivish,” declared the little girl, who’d often watched admiringly as the pair whizzed about on their bikes.

“Hmm,” responded Moishy.

At last they were almost at the store. Gavriel had got in a delivery of watermelons, and they were on display outside, piled up pyramid-style. As they approached the entrance, Miriam suddenly called out to Moishy:

“Look! I’m doing it! I’m riding all by myself!”

To Moishy’s surprise, the little girl was actually riding in a straight line. But, oh dear! She was heading straight for the watermelons!

“Stop!” he called.

It was too late. Miriam forgot to brake, and rode straight into the watermelons. They rolled here, there, and everywhere, and six small ones even shot up into the air.

Moishy grabbed Miriam just in time to stop her tumbling off her bike.

“Hey!” bellowed Gavriel from inside the shop. “Who’s messing around with my watermelons?”

Miriam froze. Moishy cringed, wondering if they’d have to pay Gavriel damages.

(Excerpted from Mishpacha Jr., Issue 770)