Avenger. It was a word that he liked to say, a word that was a part of his boyhood dreams. Just to say it out loud brought visions of the one thing that would make his life complete, the word was magic, not a comic book hero, not a television program, not a fantasy but a word that represented the greatest hope in the life of a ten year old. What was an Avenger?
On Saturdays – it was a time of innocence when he was allowed to walk from his Dillon home down East Main Street to see a double feature at the local movie theater. He liked to leave early because part of his independent enjoyment of the Saturday away from school was to take in the stores he encountered along the way.
There was the furniture store, the candy store, the fire department, the drug store, the barber shop, the hardware; and just by the railroad was where the two story brick fortress-like bank building was located where he turned to walk past the jewelry store, a café and finally arriving at his Saturday morning destination, the theater where he became a cowboy for a hour or so. Being with his friends, he was one happy boy, but he did have one longing that prevented him from having a child’s life of total bliss. What was it? Did you guess the Avenger?
Yes, the Avenger was indeed real in fact on his way to the movies he had to pass by its home, a furniture store which sold appliances and an occasional bicycle in this case the much coveted Avenger prominently placed in the display window for all to see, unfortunately for him because he has already begged his father to buy it for him except the family could not allow for such an extravagant expenditure. This was devastating to his dream of two wheel ownership, but he understood the financial facts of life. But then an unexpected answer came.
The father understood how much the Avenger with a ‘banana’ seat meant to his son so he had a talk with the furniture business owner where the bicycle was displayed. They worked out a plan.
The plan was unknown to the boy when his father told him one day that they were going to visit the store where his dream resided. Once there, the owner asked the boy to come into his office and there they discussed a ‘business’ plan which would allow for the boy’s bicycle ownership, a plan that left him in a state of happy disbelief.
Taking the boy to where the bicycle was displayed, the owner pointed out to the boy 2 items: a lawn mower and the Avenger bicycle. He then explained to the ten year old the deal: He may use the lawn mower to cut grass at the homes already preselected by the owner, charging for each job $4 for ‘small’ yards and $5 for ‘large’ yards. After expenses, once he had saved enough money from his lawn mowing, he could buy the Avenger. The boy was elated; the deal was completed with a handshake, the pre-teen boy’s first encounter with a formal business plan.
His real joy was finally getting his bicycle, but another equal joy was the satisfaction that he himself had earned the money, with a little help, to make the long desired purchase.
After a summer’s work, the Avenger was his, shiny red with lots of chrome and reflectors everywhere even on the two pedals plus the black leather ‘banana’ seat. What brought him his greatest happiness however was the stenciled letters on the bicycle’s frame: A V E N G E R .
Some dreams really do come true, with a little help.
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Bill Lee, PO Box 128,
Hamer, SC 29547
