Yours Transport Pages

Steve was mumbling about the skip hire costs as he saw the skip on the drive. They were currently doing the house up and were planning on gutting all the bathrooms and the kitchen. His 18 year old son, Declan,wantedto learn to ride a motorbike but Steve refused to let him. He knew that Declan was a boy racer when he was driving his car but Steve believed that letting him ride a motorbike was an accident waiting to happen.The car was simply a matter of necessity since they lived in the middle of nowhere and Steve was now sick of being a taxi for his two children.

Steve's job was part of the motor trade and he worked fixing up cars and so was able to work from home most of the time. He was currently working on a motorbike and he was worried as it was sitting on the drive and his son knew where he kept his keys for the motors he was doing up. He knew that there was no point worrying about it as nothing may come of it. Likely not, he thought as he put the keys away for the night and went upstairs to bed. As he walked the stairs, he thought he might just let his son, Declan take one of those week long course things for learners, he thought they did them for motorcyclists too. You know, where you have a week of driving lessons and take the test at the end of the week. Of course, Steve would put forward conditions to it as well.

In the middle of the night, Steve was woken by the phone and immediately knew that something was wrong. Both his children were out tonight, which of his children was in trouble. It was all a blur. The only words he heard were Declan, accident and hospital. He quickly dressed and raced to the hospital. When he was there, the hospital staff explained that Declan had been in a motorbike accident. His mind then flashed back to the drive and he couldn't remember whether the motorbike was there or not.

He walked into see Declan and Declan choked "Sorry" and then realised that he must have taken the motorbike. "Its alright" Steve replied "You know I was going to let you take one of those week long driving course things for motorbike" and Declan attempted to smile. Steve said "Save your energy. I want you fighting fit before I even think about it again" as he walked out the room to let Declan rest.

As he waited outside the hospital room, Steve thought of all the things he could have done better as a parent, all the times he could have given him beans instead of peas for dinner etc. He wondered whether if he wasn't part of the motor trade and had that bike sitting on their drive whether he would have taken it. No, he thought, the motor trade is my life. I will not give that up. He tortured himself this way for ages until Declan was fully healed.

Five years later as Steve thought back to when Declan was in hospital, he realised that he had no need to be worried as Declan was now a motorbike instructor. Funny how things change.