WE GATHER TOGETHER by Edward L. Woodyard

We Gather Together Chapter Forty-Six

Ben McCulloch stood in front of Columbia's Mathematics Building on Broadway while Alison spun numbers on the combination lock that attached her fat tire bicycle to an iron railing. She wore a fleece jacket and sneakers, as well as her backpack with her laptop and books for class.

"Ben, I texted you the numbers. What is so difficult about this?"

"I don't know." He stood over her, smiling.

She unlocked the chain and pulled it through the spokes of her bicycle's rear wheel, as well as the straps of her helmet hanging from the crossbar.

"You must have the special touch," said Ben.

He looked at her goofy-eyed. She was curious, "Do you have to go to the bathroom?"

"No. I'm good."

"So, how'd you do?"

"I made it in time, by the way. Thanks for asking."

"I'm not talking about the bathroom. I'm talking about your test."

"That too."

"How'd you do?" She put on her helmet.

"I stood in front of the urinal for. . ."

"Your test, idiot."

"Urine test?"

"Ben. . ."

"Urine in all my dreams. . ."

"Ben McCulloch. . ."

"Urinate in eight places at once?"

"You're putting me in all of them."

"How about half that? Four places?"

"Enough."

This banter wasn't a conversation; it was flirting at its most palpable. Ben knew it and soon recognized that Alison was starting to catch on. 

"I have class in fifteen minutes," Alison said, insisting that Ben cease acting so silly, "It's comp lit. May I have my bicycle now, please?"

"I'll take you. I don't want to walk all the way back to the dorm."

"Take Uber or a cab. Either way, hold onto your britches, Ben. I walked here to do this," she said, indicating the combination lock for her bike.

"No, I'll take you." He held onto Alison's bicycle. He indicated the handlebars. "Get on."

"You're not serious."

"Dead serious."

"We will be dead if we do this."

"To the contrary, we will be very much alive."

Alison stared at Ben. She paused and then started toward him cautiously. He lifted her up onto the handlebars.

"Make sure you keep your legs out in front, Alison, and let me steer," he said.

Ben looked south on Broadway to see where he was going as pedestrians and drivers watched the two of them. He confidently started pedaling toward her classroom building.

"Ben. . ."

"I can't see. You'll have to be my GPS. How do I get to your comp lit class?"

"Ben, let me off."

"No," Ben said, instead pedaling faster. "How do I get there?"

"Ben. . ." She knew he was strong enough for them to ride double on her bike. She started squealing in delight. She was confident that he knew what he was doing.

"You good?" he asked.

"I'm great." They both starting laughing, he forcefully pedaling south on Broadway and she holding onto the handlebars. Pedestrians around them smiled as they got out of their way.

"Hey, Alison, maybe we can be in the parade on Thursday," he suggested.

"I don't think so, Ben."

"How am I doing?"

"Awesome."

"And I promise we won't crash."

"Promise?"

"I always keep my promises. So, you didn't ask me. . ."

"Ask you what?"

"How I did on my test?"

"Ben McCulloch, when we get off this bike, I'm going to smash your head."

"I'm not wearing a helmet."

"Good."

"Then I better keep pedaling."

"I'm going to be late for class."

"Then you better not smash my head."

"Just get me to class in one piece. Promise?"

"Promise."

Anyone who saw Benjamin McCulloch and Alison Donnelly riding double on the sidewalk knew that they were two kids in love. If Ben and Alison thought they were hiding anything from anyone, their smiles and laughter gave away their secret.