Nate’s Bike Ride by Geri Murray

Tim wanted to take a hike with his friend Nate, but Nate just wanted to sit by the T.V. “Hikes are not fun,” said Nate.

"Nate, you are not right," said Tim. Tim ran off. Nate sat and played with his snake, Jake. Jake wanted to eat. He liked mice, but Nate did not get up to feed Jake any mice. He just sat. "You can eat later, Jake. I have some nice fat mice you will like."

Nate napped and wasted the day. Tim hiked with Jan, his sister. "Nate is lazy," Tim said to Jan. Jan replied, "You can whine, or you can trick Nate into playing. Let's think of a way to trick him."

Then Tim had an idea. "I think I can get Nate to play outside. I will get my kite and I will let him ride my new bike. He will like to glide on the drive and make the kite rise in the sky. Then he will not want to stay inside all the time."

Tim and Jan got the bike and the kite. "Let's go inside and get Nate. We will tell him it is a surprise," said Jan.

Nate was asleep inside. Tim said, “Wake up, Nate. There's a big surprise outside." Nate was tired, but he went out. "Oh, no," he said. "I think I'll go back inside. I don't ride bikes.”

Tim got on the bike. "See, Nate, it's easy to glide. Let the kite line slide in your hand as you ride down the drive. The kite will rise. You will be fine. Please, Nate, just try."

Jan and Tim were surprised when Nate got on the bike. Nate started to glide with one hand on the line. "Yikes! This is nice!" Nate slid down the drive. But he didn't stop. He kept on riding the bike. The kite kept on rising.

Tim jumped on his bike to chase Nate. "This is great!" Ben yelled. "Nate may not want to hike but now we can ride bikes outside."

Tim met Nate on the bike trail. Nate was smiling. “ That was a wild ride. I liked it! Let's keep riding, ” said Nate. “ The kite must be a mile up in the sky. ”

“ I never got it to rise like that, ” beamed Tim. “ Say Nate, do you like to camp out? ” “ Yes, if we can bring the T.V. outside, ” replied Nate.

Genie Collection © 2007