Last prompt for the month featuring show don’t tell.
*****
The air burned in my nose as I pumped up the hill. All this exercise would either kill me or make me fit enough to beat the entire cross-country team next fall. But if this was the only way I could see Ava and Lucy during this stupid virus crisis, I’d let the air burn off my nose completely.
“C’mon! Race ya!” My little brother flew by us as we passed the Jenkins’ farm.
Besides the threat of death, Gavin was the other drawback of these rides. But Mom made me bring him.
“I’m glad it stopped raining.” Ava sat up straighter, the breeze that was tossing the leaves of the budding honeysuckle catching her long, red hair.
Lucy bent lower over her bars. “I don’t let a little rain stop me from riding.”
Of course she didn’t. Lucy was in good enough shape to make Olympic athletes throw up their hands and go home to their couches.
I didn’t say that, though. Couldn’t. I was pedaling.
Gavin stopped at the overgrown drive that always had a chain across it, and we pulled up beside him.
“Look.” He pointed at the chain that was wrapped around a tree.
“That chain is always blocking that drive,” said Lucy.
“It’s not now.” Gavin hopped into this seat and took off.
“Gavin! That’s a private drive!” I tried to shout, but it came out as a strained whisper.
He disappeared around the bend.
I looked to Ava and Lucy. “He’s your brother,” Ava said.
“You know, I’d forgotten that.” Blowing out my cheeks, I pushed off and headed down the drive.
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