I See My First Motorcycle

Photo by Tamanna Rumee on Unsplash

“Are we underwater yet Dad?” I asked.

When I was twelve years old, my younger brother Randy and I had just moved to Quakertown PA. with our parents. Mom was detaching from our family and it was affecting my relationship with her.

We played a game Sunday mornings after church, where we drove around the countryside and got lost on purpose, then we tried to find our way home.

The Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters was planning to develop Lake Nockamixon, which would one day become the largest lake in Bucks County.

As we drove into a valley, Dad would tell us that the car was “Underwater.” This added to the fun of our post-church adventure. Mom joined us for a while, but over time, stopped coming.

One Sunday, when church ended, we were walking toward the car.

“Dad, can we get lost on the way home?” I asked.

“Sure,” He said smiling.

Mom gave Dad an unhappy look. “Uh. Maybe another time.”

Why does she have to be such a party pooper? I thought.

“Come on, Dad,” I pleaded.

“Joanne, the boys enjoy this. How about I drop you off at home, and we go without you?”

After a pause, she said, “Okay, I guess.”

When we arrived home, Mom got out of the car and slowly walked toward the house without saying a word.

“I get the front seat!” I said.

“No, Brother! I want it.”

He often called me Brother, which really pissed me off.

“I’m the oldest, I get it,” I said as I slid into the front seat. “And my name is Scott!”

We drove out of the driveway and began our adventure. After a bit, I asked Dad, “Are we underwater?”

“Not yet, soon.”

Some time passed.

“Now we are underwater,” Dad said.

My imagination tried to picture all the woods gone, replaced by a vast lake. We made a few more turns. Dad smiled and said, “We’re officially lost.”

We rounded a bend. “Stop!” I yelled.

Dad pulled over. Alongside the road was a small motorcycle with a For Sale sign on it.

“Let’s look at that,” I said.

We climbed out of the car. As we were looking at the motorcycle, a man walked out.

“How much?” my father asked.

“It’s a 1964 80cc Suzuki, one hundred and twenty-five dollars,” he said.

It was bright red and glistened in the sun.

“Can I sit on it?” I asked.

The man removed the sign. “Okay, but be careful.”

I threw my leg over the seat and grabbed the handlebars. My mind filled with images of roaring down the street with the wind blowing in my face. “Dad, can we get it?”

“Scott, I’m not going to pay one hundred and twenty-five dollars for a motorcycle.”

“Dad, this is sooo cool. Pleeease?”

The man was looking at my dad.

“Sorry, Scott.” Dad said shaking his head. “Let’s go.”

The man put the sign back, and we climbed into the car.

I was sulking as we continued our drive. We rode in silence for what seemed like forever.

“I know where we are. We should be home in fifteen minutes,” Dad said.

After a bit. “Okay… If you save up the money, you can have a motorcycle.”

I didn’t expect that answer. “Where am I going to get all that money?”

“That’s up to you.”

I was deep in thought, trying to figure out how the hell I could save up all that cash. My allowance of fifty cents a week would be a start, but I needed much more. As I thought more about it, I figured I would give it a try. As we pulled into our driveway I said, “Okay, I’ll do it.”

Dad looked at me. “Let me know when you have the money.”

“I’m going to tell Mom.” I ran into the house to break the news.

Mom was sitting at the kitchen table.

“Mom!” I announced, “I’m going to get a motorcycle!”

Startled, she said, “What... what are you talking about?”

“We saw a motorcycle for sale, and Dad said I could have it.”

My father walked in with Randy behind him. “Hub, what the hell is going on? Did you tell Scott he could have a motorcycle?”

“Joanne, calm down. It costs one hundred and twenty-five dollars. I told him if he saved the money, he could have it.” Lowering his voice, He said. “There’s no way in hell that kid will save all that money.”

As my parents argued, Randy and I left the kitchen.

“Brother, where are you going to get one hundred and twenty-five dollars?”

“I don’t know, but I will.”

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This is a scene from my upcoming book Motorcycle Stories - Finding forgiveness on the open road. It is the story of Scott, a young timid boy saving up and buying a motorcycle that becomes his lifelong love. He and his best friend Ross take motorcycle trips around the northeastern U. S. where Scott faces his fears and comes to grips with his drug addicted and abusive mother. For more about the book, please see www.scottocamb.com/ and subscribe to my Substack to stay informed about the book’s launch this fall.