Kat's Vision

Kat’s life was wonderful. So she thought. She had everything she needed, didn’t she?1

Kat had an awesome motorcycle called a Vision. It was a 1982 Yamaha with 550cc liquid-cooled v-twin engine. It was all black and shiny. She would take it anywhere. She would go as fast as she wanted, because she loved the speed. It was her that could decide who she wanted to ride with her as well. 2

Plus there were many places she could go, so many places for her to see and ride through. She loved the roads out in the desert, away from it all. The fun was finding them and exploring them as far as a tank of gas would take her. She also discovered stunts she could do, and she did them. It seemed there was nothing she could not do. She was so happy about having her motorcycle. Once in a while she would take out her wallet and look at the registration, almost as if to check to see if she was fooling herself. Did she really own this great bike? Yet, there it was, on the paper, her name-Kat. Her heart swelled with happiness and pride. 3

And yet there was something still missing. At first, she tried to ignore it but it seemed to haunt her. There was emptiness about all that she did. Oh, it was enjoyable for a while but it seemed everything she did was pointless and empty. She also felt lonely, very lonely.4

Then came the day she was on that one road, with all that she was feeling deep down inside. That one crazy road, running along it, letting the engine roar as if trying to drown out the dull roar of her heart. 5

There was a man standing on the side of the road, obviously wanting to hitch a ride. There was no way she was going to pick up this “goof.” Then as she passed him she seemed drawn to him. As she was across from him she saw his eyes. They seemed to woo her. She started to slow down but when she realized what she was doing she hit the throttle.6

“What am I thinking?!”7

She knew she could pick up anyone she wanted but she just did not jump into any situation. Why did I begin to slow down?, she thought. It almost seemed right to do such a thing. This did not make any sense. Still, she sped on, as far and as fast as she could from the hitch hiker as she could get. She swore she could feel his eyes on her back.8

She went back to what she knew best, riding fast. She carried on as best she could but things seemed less fun, less exciting as before. In fact, the whole thing started to become nerve-wracking. There were times she would end the ride by jumping off the Vision and kicking it in frustration. Then there were the break downs, what a drag! They seemed to come, one right after the other. The fun she was having became short-lived. It got to the point where she dreaded getting on the motorcycle. Days would pass before she would eventually get on to go somewhere. Even then it was only because she had to. The rides would seem to have no direction. Then there came that sense of pointlessness again! 9

“Agh!”, she screamed. She got off the bike in the middle of the empty road and fell to her knees. She started to weep as she pulled off her helmet. With her head down, she convulsed through the tears and leaned against the motorcycle she loved so much.10

“What’s the use of all of this if there’s no meaning to it?”11

Nothing but the low howl of the wind answered back.12

“That was stupid,” she said to herself as she stood up. “Why did I do that?”13

She got back on the motorcycle and rode on. And then she found that old road again where she came upon the hitch hiker. She stopped at the intersection and looked down the road. Her fingers rapped across the clutch as she pondered going down the road. Then she looked back down the road she came from. Those were her only two options: to go back to what she knew or move on to this unfamiliar path.14

She turned down the new way. She rode on for a while and after a time she realized she was looking along the shoulder of the road, as if she was looking for something, or someone.15

And there he was, on a different part of the road but there nonetheless. Plus he had that gaze in his eyes. It seemed to pierce her soul, but she was not frightened. Oddly enough the look sort of calmed her down.16

She stopped across from him and sat there on the saddle, just staring at him. The first one to speak was him and what came out of his mouth was a surprise to her. 17

“I knew you were coming back.”18

“You knew?”, she responded. 19

“Oh, sure. It was just a matter of time. I knew you wouldn’t endure much of those problems you had on the roads."20

Okay, she surmised in her mind, sensing she was perplexed. She looked back down toward that old road again. It almost seemed as if she were planning to escape. 21

“So, are you going to let me on?”22

He seems real sure of himself! “Sure,” she said. “Get on.”23

When he did any apprehension she had soon vanished, so it seemed. This was definitely something new for her. It almost seemed right for him to be on the Vision with her. 24

Who is this guy? 25

She took off. As they accelerated he directed her to take the next turn. 26

He’s hitching a ride with me and he’s telling me which turn to take?, she thought. He had not even told her where he needed to go. She kept on her original course, which proved wrong because they came to a dead end. She looked back at him with embarrassment. 27

“I thought I knew every way around. I’ve never seen this here before.”28

“So can we go back to the turn I had pointed out?”29

“Sure...okay,” she mumbled with bewilderment. 30

They went back and took the turn. It was the best thing she could have ever done. All the fun she knew before was back. It even seemed new again.31

New again? What a crazy concept, she thought. 32

She never knew it could be like this again, because it was like she had regained her youth. There was just that-a newness to everything. They ran everywhere. Even the old favorite roads she had been on so much were fresh and exciting. She was so caught up in this new life that she had forgotten about her rider. She stopped and turned to him.33

“I’m sorry. You never told me where you were heading. I was having such a good time I forgot about you.”34

“It’s okay,” he said with a laugh. “It was fun to see you enjoy yourself again. The rides you will have from now on will not have to be dismal again. You knew it was right that I got on with you.” 35

“Wait a minute! Who are you?”36

“I’m the best thing that could have ever happened to you. You know it. Now everything is right-almost.”37

“Yeah, almost.” She had not realized what she was saying.38

“So it’s okay if I stay on with you?”39

“Yeah...sure.”40

She had said that without any hesitation. She had a sound of certainty in her voice. 41

They continued on, with him on the back. As before, the rides were a blast. Again she was so swept in everything she had not realized until it was too late. They were out of gas, and they were in the middle of nowhere. 42

“Oh, lord, how stupid could I be? It’s miles to the next station.” She turned to him. “I’m sorry! Could you help me push this contraption?”43

“I got a better idea.” 44

With that, he got off with a jump. Then the next thing he did was really wild. Out of nowhere he pulled a gas can, the usual one gallon kind. He went over to the tank and took off the cap. Defensively, she reached to pull his hands away with and exclamation of “Hey!” but he patiently held her back. Then he poured.45

“Hey! Stop! That looks like water! What are you doing? It’ll ruin everything!”46

“Hold on. Trust me. This is better than anything you could get on your own.”47

Somehow she found she could believe him. Then she looked at his hands which, before, were hidden in gloves but now those were off and she could see them. They were scarred. She said nothing. It was then she looked at his face. There was calmness with strength that he seemed to express. His eyes were very clear and bright. He seemed sure of what he was doing, with a sense of proficiency. He also appeared very happy, even ecstatic, to be pouring this strange fuel out of that old, almost ancient-looking, silly little can. And even though it was just a gallon the tank was filled to the top. He did not spill a drop.48

“There, all that you need for a while. Shall we take off?”49

They did. The engine ran better than ever before. It was amazing. She found herself singing as they continued on. She tried to keep the song to herself but he heard her and it made him smile.50

“Quick, turn here!” he directed. She got annoyed and her singing stopped abruptly. 51

“No, if you don’t mind I’d like to turn this way instead!”52

She was adamant, but he kept quiet. So she turned and accelerated. Soon they hit another dead end. It came up so quick that they slid into a large rock hard? 53

When her head cleared she took off the helmet. She looked around and found her passenger not too far away. In fact, he was the one closest to the Vision, she was the one farthest away. They were both okay.54

The bike was a mess, though! She went over, knelt beside it and started to cry. He had come over and reached to hold her. She responded by laying her head on his shoulder. 55

“Please, forgive me. I should’ve listened to you. I should have known from the last time. Now look at the mess I’ve made of things. How am I gonna fix this? I can do some maintenance and minor repairs but not something as big as this. What am I gonna do?”56

“It’s okay,” he said. “I’ll fix everything. You just sit down on the rock and let me take over.”57

So she did. It was not long before he had everything together again, restored. She got on to start the bike up but nothing happened. Everything seemed in working order. Then he spoke: 58

“You quenched the tank when you took the wrong turn. But it’s okay. I’ll just fill it up again, if you want me to?”59

“Oh, yes, please! Fill it up like you did before!” He did and as he did joy filled her heart. She was so glad she had found him, on that strange road. Then she became aware of feeling exhausted with all that had happened. But he already knew. She then went to start the bike again when he stopped her.60

“I’ve got an idea! Since you’re so tired why don’t you let me take over for a while? You just hang onto me and I’ll get us where we need to be. How’s that sound to you?”61

“You know…that sounds great! I normally don’t let anyone handle my motorcycle but, honestly, I’m beat and ready to be the passenger right now. It sounds like an awesome idea!”62

“Funny that you said ‘normally’. Since when have things been normal. If I remember well, and I think I do, you weren’t too happy with normal. By the way, I’m the one who found you.”63

She looked at him studiously. 64

“You’re right. Why does it always seem you’re right? You know all things.”65

He got on, reaching for the handlebars. It seemed to her like she belonged behind him. Maybe it was just her imagination. That couldn’t be right, she wondered. She soon found herself at rest, though. She did not have to worry about taking the right way. He was in control now. 66

They took off. It was quick to see that he knew definitely how to handle the Vision. How come that did not seem to surprise her? He took her to places she had never been before. She met new people, other bike riders. She was quick to tell them about the man who was controlling her bike. She boldly told them they should give him a try. She shared with them how her rides were so much better, and how he would get her where she belonged. Many listened and said they would think about it. Others thought she was silly. They were content to ride on like they had been. It saddened her. It seemed like they were wasting their time and were heading into danger. 67

“It’s alright. They’re only rejecting me.”68

On another day, while they had stopped, she found herself saying something she never would have thought would come out of her mouth. 69

“Thank you!”70

“For?”, he said.71

“For taking over. I never knew it could be like this. There’s so much purpose and direction, so much joy and peace when your hands are on the handlebars. Thank you for being in control of my bike.”72

“Your bike?” he asked calmly.73

“Why, of course. Just like the paper says.”74

“Take out the paper and look at it.”75

She looked at him warily as she reached into her back pocket. She pulled out the registration slowly and opened it up. Above her name was the name of another. His.76

“Jesus,” she said, quietly. Tears welled up in her eyes. The name was written in blood.77

“You know what to do with that, don’t you?”78

“Yes.” Her voiced sounded so small.79

With that she handed over the form to him as she cried. But she was not sad. Rather she was happy because he knew how to take care of the bike. She had no qualms about handing him the paper. It only seemed right. Now everything was as it should be. She was perfectly content to be the passenger, as long as he was in control. 80

It was good to know that, from now on, he was the owner of the Vision.