On Your Left

Ring that bell.

Always a follower of the unwritten rules, Max stayed to the right when he walked down the city’s wide walking path. The sidewalk was big enough for a car to drive on it, so cyclists, runners, casual walkers, wheelchairs, and strollers could share the path comfortably.

But that wasn’t Max’s experience. Even as he kept to the right, others seemed to get delight in startling him as they yelled, “On your left!” five feet before overtaking him.

Saturday, Max grabbed his over-the-ears headphones and went on his walk as usual. His music wasn’t loud but the noise canceling function made him oblivious to the world. He could see where he was going so that’s all he needed.

“Say, I don’t remember that part,” he thought. “That’s a blast from the past. That bicycle bell.”

Max smiled because he had such a bell attached to his dark maroon bike with a white banana seat. Baseball cards were attached with a clothespin to the front wheel of his bike to imitate a motorcycle.

He paused and pressed his headphones to his ear. He saw something out of the corner of his eye, so he turned his head slightly.

“On your left” someone said twice as three cyclists passed by. Max jumped at the first shout. The third cyclist was a senior on a one-speed and she smiled and waved as she rang that familiar bell.

Max returned the smile for it reminded him of when life was less complicated.

What a time to be alive.