Author's Note: I was in the car heading off to my volunteer job, when I got the idea for this short fic. It is another glimpse into the childhood of Doctor Emmett L. Brown like "Missing". Except Doc is about eleven years old in this fic and trying to achieve a milestone in his life. The idea for this story kind of jumped out of my brain but is sort of inspired by my own trials in learning how to ride a bike. It took me a whole day and my little brother learned how to ride before me! Oh well here is the story…
Disclaimer: The character of Emmett Lathrop Brown was not created by me (although I wish he was).
Hill Valley, California
July 16, 1931
2:03 PM
Come now Emmett it is not that difficult. Emmett Brown thought as he stared at the mechanism before him.
Emmett had been trying desperately to learn how to ride a two-wheeled bicycle. His father had recently purchased him one because all of the other kids in their neighborhood had bikes and rode them around town. Mr. Brown had wanted his son to be apart of the bike trend but failed to put time away to teach Emmett exactly how to ride one. So that left the pre-teen alone, trying to figure it out himself.
The boy sat down on a nearby stump and continued to stare at the bycicle. It was still shiny even though he had fallen in the dirt a couple times. Some scrapes now covered his elbows and knees from falling which was just a reminder of his failure.
Perhaps I should just stop trying. Emmett thought and examined one of his scratches. It was burning a little and he hoped it wasn't infected.
Emmett picked the bike up again and looked at it more closely. He had checked out a library book on the history of the bicycle earlier in the morning for some light research. He touched the gears and recalled what he had learned about it. The gears and bike chain would be useful in an invention or science project.
No, no he could not use the parts for science. His father had spent good money on this bycicle and taking it apart would be disrespectful. Bus still, Emmett had the urge of curiosity to take the whole machine apart and examine every piece.
As Emmett stroked the wheels with his fingers, he decided to give it another go. He then stood up and swung his leg over the side of the bike.
"All right," Emmett said and squeezed the handle bars nervously. "I guess I will give it another go."
Emmett pushed off from the ground and put both feet on the petals. He started pedaling and remained upright and riding steady until he rode all the way down the driveway. He got off the bike and stared wide-eyed at his accomplishment.
"I did it!" Emmett cried out loud as he hopped up and down. "I actually succeeded!"
He got back on his bike and started pedaling out of the driveway and down the street. The wind blew gently through his blond hair and the sun's warmness radiated his eleven-year-old body.
It is true. Emmett thought happily as he rode smoothly on the ground. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything!
END