Scooter Rides With Papa
A Heartfelt Note on Papa’s Retirement
One of my fondest memories as a child were Scooter rides with Papa. I absolutely LOVED to stand at the footrest and go on rides with him, especially because the fresh wind would hit my face and make my hair flow with the waves.
When I was two years old, he was taking me from one place to another. I still remember the banyan tree near which he pressed brakes too hard to stop his scooter and my little face hit the speedometer. He didn’t even realize I got hit and I didn’t even cry. When we got home and Mummy saw the broken teeth — they rushed me to the hospital. On the same scooter. Still, he didn’t stop taking me on Scooter rides with him and I didn’t stop standing at the footrest.
I didn’t like going to the school even though it was just two blocks away. Papa would drop me there on his scooter. It was so close that Mummy would stand at the balcony to waive me ‘bye’. Yet, I would cry-n-cry-n-cry until all the other kids at the school also started to cry with me. Papa would promptly bring me back home. He couldn’t see me crying. I started to attend school so late. And when I did. I would never take the bus to school — only Papa had to drop me on his scooter. Funnily enough, I forgot my schoolbag at home one day. He went all the way back home and got it for me. Always ensured I was prepared.
