Bishop

The party’s been over and the compound has been quiet for a while. I find I like it this way. Dusting off my gear, I grab my bike and head towards the half pipe. When I get there though, it’s already occupied.

“Ahem,” I say. The intruder is mid-trick.

The surprise causes him to lose his concentration and he goes down.

“You,” I say when I get a look at his face. The kid from the viewing party stares back at me. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

“I, uh, I d-didn’t think anyone would still be here,” he says, now visibly white.

“Sucks to be you then. I live here so there’s always someone here.”

“So on top of being a has-been you’re also a shut-in?” he asks.

I cross my arms. “Is now really the time to be giving me attitude?” He shrugs.

“How did you get in?” I ask again.

“I hid in the toilets. When I thought everyone was gone. I came out.”

“And your bike?”

“Bennington lets me leave it here.”

“Right, well I’m going to have to call him.”

The kid shakes his head. “A has-been, shut-in, and a goody two shoes? You’re so fucking boring, bro. What happened to the spoiled brat who trashed his hotel room?”

“He got arrested and forced to do community service,” I reply, my phone to my ear.

“Bishop?” Bennington answers.

“Yeah, we’ve got a situation here,” I tell him.

“I’ll be right there,” he says and hangs up.

“You’re in for it now,” I tell the kid.

Bennington’s reaction when he sees the kid is not at all what I expected.

“Kyle?” he asks. “What are you doing here?” Kyle shrugs. “Where are you staying these days?”

“Here and there,” Kyle replies.

“What happened to the group home?”

“I turned eighteen a couple of weeks ago.”

“Shit,” Bennington curses. “Come on, there’s a heap of food left from this morning.”

“Hang on,” I say as they start to walk towards the kitchen. “He’s here after hours, aren’t you going to call the cops?”

“Why would I do that? The boy just wants a place to stay and do the thing he loves.”

I shake my head. “You’re incredible.”

“Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“I know.” He continues to lead Kyle to the kitchen.

By the time I decide to follow them, they’re already set up and in deep conversation.

“I’ve just been sleeping wherever,” Kyle says. “That’s why I asked if I could leave my bike here. I never know where I’m going to end up and who else might be around so it’s better to leave it where I know it’s safe.”

“What are you going to do now?” Bennington asks.

Kyle shrugs. “Dunno,” he says through a mouthful of food.

“What do you want to do?”

“Ride,” he answers without hesitating.

Bennington chuckles. “Don’t we all?”

“I did want to be like him,” Kyle says, hitching his chin in my direction, “but then I met him.”

This time Bennington throws his head back and roars with laughter. I smirk and chuck Kyle the finger. “You wish you could be like me.”

“Ha!” he says. “I’ve got more talent and determination than you’ll ever have.”

“You know who you’re talking to?” I ask.

“I know who you used to be.”

Bennington is still chuckling when he says, “Why don’t you two take it to the track huh?”

I look at Kyle, who looks at me. He raises an eyebrow.

“All right,” I say, “let’s see what you’re made of, kid.”

The kid has talent, I’ll give him that. He’s got the basics down, and that’s half the battle. It’s obvious he pays attention and works hard. His extension is good and he gets good air on his jumps. I’m rusty as fuck, but I think I manage to get the better of him. But being back on my bike… it’s weird, but a good weird. I never realised how something seemingly so insignificant could be such a big part of your life. Riding… well, it makes me forget everything that was worrying me. When I was up there, there were no thoughts of Jake or Jonah or Bennington or my community service hours or what I’m going to do once I’m through. It was just… gone. It was freeing. Actually, it reminded me of what it felt like when I first started, just a couple of years after Mum died. That was why I got into BMX, for the escape. Now I’ve found it again. I can’t help but smile a little at that realisation. It doesn’t mean I’m going to let the kid off the hook though.

“It’s too bad your talent doesn’t back up that mouth of yours,” I say to him as we catch our breath after our runs.

“Fuck you, bro. Give me the same opportunities you’ve had and I bet I could bury you.”

I go to respond, but Bennington’s laughter cuts me off. “I reckon you’re probably right,” he says.

“The fuck?” I ask.

“The kid’s got talent, even you’ve got to have seen it,” Bennington says to me.

I shrug, giving nothing away. “Nothing I can’t see at any skate park.”

Kyle guffaws while Bennington shakes his head, a smile on his weathered face. “Well if that’s the case, then I may be wasting my time, but my gut tells me I won’t be.”

“Wasting your time on what?” Kyle asks.

“On you. If you want, you can move in here, there’s a spare bunk in the room Bishop’s staying in. You’ll help around here, for the same pay as him—”

“Which is practically slave wages,” I interrupt.

“Slaves never got wages,” Kyle says.

I shoot him a look and he turns away.

“—and after hours I’ll train you,” Bennington continues.

“Really?” Kyle and I exclaim at the same time, me in disbelief, he in excitement.

“Yes, really. I think you have talent. Bishop may not think so, but I’m willing to take a chance.”

“I won’t let you down,” Kyle says.

Bennington smiles and nods. “Looks like you’ve got a new roommate,” he says while Kyle beams.

Bennington and I stand and watch as Kyle runs over the downhill track, a massive smile on his face.

“Go easy on the kid,” he says to me.

“Why?” I ask.

“He’s had a rough start to life—”

“A bit of tough love never hurt anybody.”

He shoots me a look. “You’re really going to stick with that?”

“Coddling him isn’t going to help him,” I say.

“I don’t mean to keep him wrapped in cotton wool, just go easy, give the kid a chance, you never know, something great could come of this,” he says, nodding to Kyle.

I sigh.

“He’s a good kid, Bishop, a lot like you I think.”

“In what way?”

“A boatload of talent, but never had the opportunity to fully explore it.”

“I think I’ve had my chances,” I say.

“Sure, you hit the heights, but were you ever doing it for yourself?” I look at him. “I’ve watched you ride. You have talent, but I never saw any heart, any desire when I watched you.”

I lower my head. He’s right.

“I think your father had a lot to do with that. I know there was a big focus on you being a Royal and all that came with that.”

I blow out a breath.

“But you have a chance to change all that now. And you can help Kyle while you’re doing it.”

“You really think I can get back to the top?”

“Get back to? No. You may have won some medals saying you were the best, but we both know you weren’t.”

My head drops again.

“But I think you can get there in your own right, on your own merits, not just because someone better hurt himself. You’re a good rider, Bishop, I daresay you could even be great, but it’s not going to happen unless you start riding from here,” he says, putting his hand over my heart. “Kyle is all heart. Let him help you. Hell, help each other.”

“You really think I can do that? Be that?” I ask.

“I said it, didn’t I?”

“I don’t know if I know what it’s like to ride for myself anymore.”

“You did it just then,” he says as he walks away.