Help Me Get This Bike: Chapter 10
The Final Chapter: The Big Decision
Hello Parents,
Welcome to the last chapter of “Help Me Get This Bike!” I hope this chapter makes your kids laugh! I also hope it makes them wonder about their motivations and makes them wonder about what’s really important in life: family, friends, and purpose.
First-time reader? Great! You can find chapter 1 here.
You can find all the chapters here.
Thanks so much for reading! I’m excited to keep writing and to keep making fun things to help kids learn.
After the story, be sure to stick around and play everyone’s favorite gameshow: Are You Smarter Than Mr. Fluffbutt?
Chapter 10 - The Big Decision
I'm dreaming again. Standing in the middle of a sun-drenched field on a mild spring day. My face is painted blue and I find myself between two of the strangest armies I've ever seen. To my left, hundreds of Bichon Frises stand in perfect formation. To my right, an army of red bikes gleams in the sunlight, lined up like soldiers ready for battle.
A single Bichon prances forward, addressing his fluffy troops. "My name is Edie," he announces. "We are dogs that deserve to be walked! They can take our squeaky toys and our comfy beds, but they can never take our freedom!" The air fills with determined yapping.
From the other side, a red bike rolls forward, its bell chiming a battle cry. "Ring ring-ring ring ring-ring-ring." The bike army responds with a chorus of bells, the sound growing louder and louder as both sides begin to charge. I'm trapped in the middle, my head whipping back and forth as the armies close in.
"BARK BARK BARK!""RING RING RING!"
I curl into a ball, hands over my ears, when—
Knock knock knock.
"Ahh!" I bolt upright in bed as Dad peeks in.
"Woah, you ok, bud?"
"Yeah," I catch my breath. "Just a weird dream."
"Well, today's the big day. Get your butt out of bed and let's go get your bike!"
I grab my envelope with $594 and tuck it safely in my backpack. The money I earned from my dog-walking business feels heavy with possibility.
In the car, we talk about my business strategy. I explain to Dad how Jimmy and I figured out the math: three walks with six dogs each, five days a week equals $500. "But I'll never get that many customers," I sigh. "I've already put up flyers everywhere."
That's when we hit the red light, and I see it. The empty billboard looming above us:
“Make Your Business Explode
Rent this Billboard
$400 for 4 months $100 for Design”
The whole car goes quiet. Thousands of cars pass this spot every day. If a $3 flyer brought me one customer, how many clients could a $500 billboard bring in? I could have more dog-walking clients than I could handle.
At Tyler's Bike Shop, the red bike I've been dreaming about for years is right there in the window. The clerk recognizes me as the kid who stops to stare at it every day. As he brings it down, Dad proudly tells him about my dog-walking business.
The bike is perfect – ten speeds, pegs for friends to ride along, even comes with a helmet. But something feels different than I imagined. Through the shop window, I can see that empty billboard, and suddenly I hear a soft "meow."
There's a cat perched on the pedal display. I kneel down and hum Mr. Fluff Butt's special song. The cat – Rufus, as the clerk calls him – immediately jumps down and rubs against my legs.
"Rufus never leaves his perch for anyone," the clerk says, impressed. "You really do have a talent with animals."
Mom pulls me aside, Rufus following close behind. "Are you okay? We thought you'd be more excited."
"I'm okay. Just... are kids allowed to rent billboards?"
She hugs me tight. "Yes, they are. But think about it carefully. It'll be a lot of work if you rent that billboard. Maybe you should just get the bike you've been wanting."
I take a moment alone, petting Rufus while I think. I remember all my bike dreams – jumping mountains, magic carpet rides, talking with it in the park. But then I think about all the fun I've had with the animals I watch. With a billboard, I could grow my business and probably buy the bike in a month or so.
I look at my parents' proud faces and know what I have to do. Walking back to them, Dad asks, "Well son, what's it going to be: the bike or the billboard?"
I take a deep breath and say, "I'm going to get the..."
What did Hudson end up doing? Leave your answer in a comment below.
🐱 Are You Smarter Than Mr. Fluffbutt?🐱
Meow there, mathematicians! I heard you've been following Hudson's story. Pretty impressive how he keeps track of all that money from pet-sitting, right? But between you and me (and don't tell Hudson), I bet you could solve these math problems even faster than he does! Want to prove it? Try the quiz and see if you can beat my purr-fect score. Remember, I'm not just any cat – I'm a mathematical genius in a fur coat! Think you can match my skills? Meow bring it on!