Looking back I've had many possessions, but not many that I can claim are mine, bought with my own money. Perhaps the realisation of how important these expensive articles are is hammered home when you lose them or they are stolen. My bike, for example, mine no longer in all senses that matter - I can't touch it, I can't ride it, fold it up or carry it over the threshold to leave greasy marks on the door mat as I put it down to check the post. It's not there; the place where it stood is empty. It's not the money, although I'd rather I'd busted it than someone else has made money out of it. It's worse this way thinking, hoping that itmight turn up just as it was, complete with the scratches and scrapes I gave it, that I'm responsible for. The fact that someone else, someone less gentle than me no doubt is giving it new scratches, new scrapes that I will never see, never be a part of is shocking and feels on some level like a personal violation. This story is about coming to terms with the loss of a personal belonging and an expression of the wish that somehow something good will result in the theft of my first bike paid for from my own wages.
A First Possession by Adam Combie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.
A Bike's Eye View (or Life After Owner)
Owner has left me by another bike, this one lying down. I am standing because I can - Owner likes this and thinks he is looking after me. Trouble is Thief likes this too, sees his opportunity, kicks my kickstand up and rides me away at fill pelt down the hill Owner just pushed me up before stopping off at shop for "quick" snack.
It has been three days now and I'm pleased to say Thief has treated me well, even give me one or two cautious rides around estate at night, although Thief doesn't use my lights and doesn't have helmet of Thief's own. Remember Owner read study done with concealed camera, bike thieves always male. Owner probably suspects two young men who went into shop just before him, one owner of other bike. In fact Thief is overweight sixty year old lady. Just kidding - it was the second of the two young men.
It's Monday afternoon now, still lying low, but can just make out road Owner would cycle me down to get to work. Well he didn't grieve long did he? No mistaking that hi-vis flash of safety green. Has bought a clone of me I see. Still shows taste and I suppose it will remind him to take better care of his bike next time.
A Bike's Eye View (or Life After Owner) by Adam Combie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.
