Mamachari Matchmaker – Chapter 9

MAMACHARI

Five years later…

“…And that’s how Mommy and Daddy met and had their very first date.” Eriko kneels down on the ground next to little Kimi, just a few months shy of her second birthday and ready for her big girl seat on the back of my frame.

Kimi pats her mother’s face and says in English, “Mommy loves Daddy.”

“Yes, indeed,” Eriko answers. English is something I hear more and more often as they teach both languages to Kimi.

“Oh, I just love that story,” I croon and sigh as Henry tightens the bolt on the new seat. He hums and nods his head as he grabs it and tries to loosen it. The seat doesn’t budge, much to his satisfaction.

The four of us have had a lot of fun the last few years together. Back when Eriko and Henry first started dating, there were many nights of group dates and daytime outings, and I would be pushed along by either of them or chained up outside to watch the flirting and the laughing. I remember their first kiss too. It happened right over me and I nearly melted my rubber tires with happiness as he leaned in, swept her hair from her face, and planted a sweet kiss before she even knew what was happening.

Henry and I have been friends too. He was always happy to put my chain on when it slipped or pedal me into town with Eriko on the handlebars. He even installed pegs on the back tires so she could hold on for a quick trip home after the trains had stopped running. Their wedding took place on a bright and sunny summer day and my spokes trembled to hear all the details of the ceremony and honeymoon to Thailand afterward.

When Eriko was pregnant, Henry rode me and kept me in great shape until she was ready to start running errands again once Kimi was born.

“I think it’s on there pretty solidly now,” Henry says, setting aside his wrench and grabbing Kimi’s tiny helmet. He secures it on her head and straps her in as Eriko steps over my frame and places her feet on the pedals.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” I ask, as Henry kisses Eriko on the cheek and heads towards the garage to put his tool chest away in the apartment.

Eriko smiles, her hands flexing on the handle bar grips.

“I think it’s what you would describe as the perfect day, Mamachari. First, we’re off to Grandma’s house to check in on my parents.”

“Grandma! Grandpa!” Kimi laughs and claps.

Eriko smiles and laughs as she pushes off from the curb. “And then we’ll run some errands before we return home for dinner with Henry. He’s tutoring today or else we would have taken the bus.”

“Excellent! It will be the perfect day. I can feel it.”

As we crest the hill and make our descent into town, all three of us squeal with glee.

“We waited a long time to get here… and perfect days are well worth waiting for!” Eriko shouts and the neighbors smile and wave.

Kimi shrieks, “Go, Mommy! Go!”

Our laughter is so happy, we turn heads as we fly through the streets. I can only hope my wheels stay planted to the ground and our path remains clear.

Because despite my grumblings in the bike shop, I have a lot of years of family time ahead of me.