Down The Dirt Road

It was a beautiful sunny day in late summer and young Danny was preparing for a bike ride down the dirt road that went alongside his house. The route traversed back into the depths of the valley for about five miles until finally coming to an end at an old farm. Very few houses lined this dirt trail and there weren’t any other children that lived in the direction he was headed. But, being an adventurous ten year old, he was just off to explore as he loved to do and do very often.

Danny’s older sister Lisa watched from her bedroom window as Danny prepared for his journey. Sometimes he’d take along his fishing pole and sometimes not. There was a creek that went alongside the dirt road and even had wide pond spots in many places. Danny often enjoyed fishing in those wide spots and many times he did catch several fish - at least that’s what he told his sister and parents. He never brought any of the fish home but instead opted to catch and release making sure to take care and not injure the delicate animals. Danny had a love for nature and all animals.    

Lisa, who was a couple years older than Danny also had a bike but had outgrown those rides that took her and him up the dirt road and along the creek together. Nor did she care for fishing. After all, she was on the verge of becoming a teenager and she had other things on her mind. By living in the country, she had a little bit of tomboy in her but she was starting to exceed those tendencies. More and more as time went by, Danny was taking those journeys alone. Danny really didn’t mind though. He enjoyed the excursions by himself. In fact, there weren’t any other children that lived near Danny’s family so he spent much of his time without anyone’s company. It was hard to have a friend when you lived out in the country.

As Danny prepared for his ride, he checked his bike over and even checked the air in his tires with the air gauge his father had given him. He did this often because his dad had taught him how the correct air pressure was important for an easier, safer and more enjoyable ride - especially along the dirt road he was about to travel. Finally, he attached his fishing rod to a tube he had made just for carrying the rod while riding. He also strapped the small butt pack around his waist which contained extra hooks, fishing tools and the artificial bait he usually used for fishing. And of course, a jug of ice water because he may be gone for hours. Sometimes a snack and sometimes not. Today - not.

Danny hopped on his bike and away he went. Lisa watched him as he left until he rounded the curve about a quarter mile ahead and out of sight. She knew she probably wouldn’t see him again until late afternoon. Lisa went to the other side of the house and told her mom if she didn’t need her, she’d like to read a book that she had just started.

“Where is Danny?”her mother asked.  

“He’s taken off on his bike up the road,” Lisa said. “He’ll be back this afternoon I’m sure.”  

Except for lunch with her mom, Lisa spent most all of the day reading her new book. Time got away from her and must have gotten away from Danny too because he did not return home until a little past 3 pm. This was later than usual especially since he had no snack with him on this particular ride. He was usually home by 12:30 or 1 and was usually always hungry for some sort of lunch. Nonetheless, he had returned safely and with a big smile on his face. This was somewhat unusual she thought to herself but she was happy he was happy. As brother and sister, they got along quite well but they were beginning to grow apart and become individuals.

The next day, Danny awoke earlier than usual and right after breakfast, he began completing what few chores he had to do around the house. Once again, Lisa noticed that he seemed happier than usual. Happy doing his chores? Now that was different. Anyway, Danny seemed as though he was on some sort of mission. Oh well, she thought. It couldn’t be that important. After all, he was just a 10 year old boy.

At about 10:30 am, Lisa heard the screen door close on the house and noticed Danny heading to the garage where he kept his bicycle. But this time, he had his school backpack on his back. This she thought was unusual. She couldn’t ever remember him taking his backpack with him on a bike ride. As Danny came out of the garage with his bicycle, she also noticed that he had not grabbed his fishing pole or the butt pack he usually took with him. Puzzled, she once again watched as he headed up the road and past the curve that took him out of sight.  

Danny didn’t return that day from his ride until nearly 4 pm. This was much later than usual. Where had he been, Lisa wondered. What could he have been doing up the dirt road by himself for so long when he didn’t even take his fishing pole. He must have packed himself some sort of lunch to take with him. A ham sandwich she thought. Lisa was bewildered but not worried because once again he had returned with a big smile on his face and in a happy mood. This was again unusual but she was happy that he was happy. Now, she was just very curious.

The next day, Danny completed his chores as quickly as he could and prepared to take another ride up the dirt road. Just like the day before, he headed to the garage with his backpack on his back and emerged from the garage with his bike. The backpack seemed full of something, she just didn’t know what. She was sure he had packed himself another sandwich or something to eat and who knows what else. What would he possibly need to take on a bike ride?

After checking his tires for air, he was satisfied they were ok and mounted his transportation for another ride up the dirt road. Once again, Lisa watched from her bedroom window until he was out of sight. She wondered. What was so important. Why a backpack full of items. What had captivated her little brother and why had he not mentioned what he was up to. She knew whatever it was made him happy and he was keeping it a secret. She just had to know what it was. What was up this dirt road?

After three more days of this unusual behavior displayed by her little brother, Lisa’s imagination was going crazy. Each day she had witnessed the same thing. Danny leaves as early as possible to ride up the dirt road with this backpack full of items and each day returning later in the afternoon. She had to know what this was all about. Where was he going and why was he so happy upon his return. In fact, he was happy all the time any more. Not only curious, she was jealous of the mystery he was keeping from her - from the whole family. She was jealous of this unexplained joy.

Today when Danny left, she made up her mind she was going to find out what was going on. She was just going to approach him upon his return and demand what he had been doing. She wanted every little detail about his destination and his activities. This many hours up this dirt road and with nobody with him. There had to be an answer and she had to know what it was. But then she thought what if he didn’t tell her what he was doing. Or what if he just told her a lie instead. How would she ever know the real truth?

As the day wore on, Lisa had another idea come to mind. She had a bike too. She thought to herself, she’d just follow him. I’ll find out exactly what he’s up to and then he won’t be able to tell me a lie and it will no longer be just his little secret. She thought to herself, I will be like a detective and solve this puzzle for myself. She hadn’t ridden her bike for quite some time and she knew to be prepared she had to make sure her bike was ready for the trip as well. She didn’t know just how far up this dirt road he was going. All she knew was that it ended at the big farm 5 miles away. Her father had not only taught Danny how to take care of his bike, he had taught Lisa as well. So she went to the garage, got her bike out and began getting it ready for the road that lay ahead. She wasn’t going to take a chance on missing out on solving this mystery once and for all. She knew she’d have to channel her inner tomboy to get this done.

The next morning, she awoke with the thought of what she had planned and she too accomplished her morning chores so as to be ready for the task ahead. She had not made her bike preparation known to Danny but she had told her mother that she was planning on taking a bike ride herself. Her mother thought that was a good idea. Her mother had noticed Danny being happier but really hadn’t noticed his bike rides being out of the ordinary. He usually played all day doing something anyway. This morning, Lisa did make it a point to tell Danny good morning and asked if he’d be riding up the dirt road again. He told her yes and didn’t notice her curiosity at all.  

Once again, Danny prepared his backpack and bike for the journey ahead. Lisa watched from her window but this time, she too had prepared. She too had packed some snacks and water for her ride. She knew she had to be careful not to be discovered so she had to time her entailment perfectly. As Danny proceeded up the dirt road, she knew that the curve that took him out of view was approximately a quarter mile up ahead. She thought this to be just the right amount of lead distance she needed to give Danny so that he would not discover her following him. She was right. It was.

As she mounted her bike, thoughts of what lay ahead entered her mind. How far would she be riding? What would she discover? She was excited about her adventure. She was excited that she was a real detective.  

With each turn and as she kept riding, judging to keep the same pace as Danny, she could see that they were riding quite a ways up this dirt road. She wondered if they would actually be riding all the way to the big farm 5 miles away - all the way to the end of the road. She had only rode this far one time before. She hoped she wouldn’t tire out before she saw whatever it was she had hoped and needed to see - needed to discover.  

She kept pumping to keep pace with Danny. It did seem that they would be riding all the way to the big farm. What could possibly be there that was making her little brother so happy. Had he met the owner? Was there another little boy living there now? What could it be? Her curiosity was about to explode.  

Danny kept riding and she kept following. Danny stopped and took a sandwich from his backpack. She took this as a good time for her to eat her snacks as well. She knew soon they would be coming up to the gate of the big farm. She wondered if this was the end of the journey. Would she finally learn what her little brother had kept secret? Would she learn what was making him so happy? She could barely stand the suspense. She was finally going to know the answer. She had to. This was the end of the road. That answer had to be here.

As she rounded the final curve, she could see that Danny had come to a stop at the gate to the big farm. She stopped too just out of sight so she could see what had captivated her little brother and what would happen next. Within a few minutes, she heard the sound of an engine. A tractor. She knew that sound and then she saw it. Yes, a tractor was coming out from behind a barn headed toward the gate of the big farm. She could see an old man driving the tractor to where Danny was standing with his bike. I could tell that he was happy to see Danny and Danny was happy to see him. I could see Danny take a rope off of a pole that allowed him to open the gate. He entered pushing his bike in the entrance and immediately closed the gate behind him.  

Lisa wondered who this man was. She could tell that this farmer had become used to seeing her brother and seemed friendly. But why? When the tractor reached Danny, he turned the engine off and climbed down. I could hear him say “Hi Danny, Are you ready?”  

“I’m ready!” Danny exclaimed with a big smile across his face.  

“Ok, here they come,” the farmer said as he raised his arm signaling his wife who was now standing by the barn door.

A few seconds later, she opened that barn door and running as hard as they could towards Danny and the farmer were what Lisa learned later to be known as Molly and Scout, two black lab mix dogs that seemed every bit as excited to see Danny as he was to see them. As soon as they reached Danny, they nearly knocked him to the ground, tails wagging and licking him with joy. Danny started hugging and petting both of them. Lisa knew at that moment, she had never seen Danny so happy. Not even at Christmas.  

Now, she knew. She knew his secret and she couldn’t contain herself. She had to be a part of this happiness. She had to go to them, expose herself and the fact she had followed her brother. She didn’t care. She had to experience this excitement too.  

She mounted her bike and headed for the farm. It was at that moment that both Danny and the farmer noticed her riding their way. She could tell they were completely surprised but they were smiling and laughing. They were happy to share this excitement with her. When she arrived at the gate, Danny opened it just enough for her entry. She couldn’t wait to pet and hug the two dogs who seemed just as excited to see her too.  

After a long petting session with the dogs, Danny introduced his sister to the farmer and his wife who had walked to the gate to join them. Danny took a blanket, two balls and some of his old toys from his backpack to share with Molly and Scout. The farmer’s wife took a couple of dog snacks from her apron to share with them too. They all spent the afternoon playing and running. It was a true afternoon of joy for everyone and Lisa was so glad she had the opportunity to be a part of it.  

Later on the ride home, Lisa and Danny couldn’t stop talking about what had happened. Lisa was so glad that Danny had not been angry she followed him but instead was happy to share his secret adventure. They agreed that they would share the story of this day with their parents. They would tell them of the new friends they had made down the dirt road.