Soda Bottle Kid

Tank was  sitting on the edge of the creek with most of the other gang,
When Rodney rattled up in Lenny's International.

   "Hey guys", Rodney hollered.
   " I know you been waiting, I been waiting too." Rodney announced.

   "Today we win, we win our money and our bikes and something more,
We, I mean I, know we win something more, that's friendship."
  " You guys are my friends. more than that you are my brothers."
At that Rodney started to tear, "you are the best friends, a guy could ask for"!

Travis and Josh came over to throw their arms around him, then Tank boosted
him on his shoulder, Rodney felt ten ft tall.

Rodney broke open the 2 coffee cans and started counting, All tolled each of the
 boys got 63 dollars, Dooley's money still held by Sheriff Tom.

I want to tell you all the boys got new bikes,

Travis bought a used dirt bike.....

Josh got a ten speed and it got stolen at a football game....

Ton and Tank got some cruiser bikes and actually rode to school
and lost weight for wrestling freshmen year.

Brian put some more money and bought a killer Stingray 5 speed.

Rodney returned home that day, to find his mom, and a dilapidated old house.
   "So this is us", Rodney posed.

" Yes the rent is paid, the car has gas, and you and I are free almost,
 I still owe the court 60 dollars for the divorce.'

 Rodney handed his Mom 60 dollars ....... She started to ask.....but there was no answer.

That Christmas there was this new blue bike, a 10 speed, Rodney knew it came full circle.

He saw Lenny kiss his mom again, but it wouldn't last another year.

She had grown so much in the last few years Lenny would have faded
more than her blue jeans.

They see each other at the Hinky Dinky every now and then, smile but withdraw,
maybe someday.....

Rodney rode that bike 'til the wheels fell off his Senior year.
 He dated his Jr., and Sr. year Roxanne for awhile then a Sophomore
girl Theresa, the rest of High School.

He would drive the Turnpike cruiser til it blew it's head gasket
one night his freshman year at college.
 
 Tho' we work so hard to "make it", I still feel we are that kid,
collecting bottles, making friends, planning great things.

  But don't tell them no, don't ever tell them they cant,
never ever tell a child that they can't. For as we learn it is the youth
that has ever changed anything. Our future relies on them.

The Soda Bottle Kids....