Like her mom, Susan had red hair. She was shy, but dreamed of great things. She just didn’t know what great things she wanted, but her mind was always thinking. Unlike her mom, she didn’t know how to interact with people . . . especially anyone her age, and most importantly a boy.
After getting registered at the new school, her mom took her to the class room number the vice principal gave her. Her mom kissed her on the forehead and left her to fend for herself.
Susan Brown didn’t change her name on purpose. Her parents had moved and she walked into the school classroom as Suzi. The only problem was that she was the second student to be introduced to the class as Suzi. William, the boy all the girls liked, spoke up and said Why not call her Suzi Red . . . or better yet, Red Suzi as opposed to the other Suzi, Suzi Williams. She has beautiful red hair, anyway.” The teacher nodded her head and looked at Susan Brown and said “Well, what do you think does Red Suzi work for you. Not hardly knowing anyone Suzi didn’t know what to do, so she simply nodded her head . . . and became Red Suzi. She sat down and felt like a fool. She never saw her brown hair as red before. She kept repeating the stupid name in her mind until she couldn’t stand it any more and raised her hand to comment, again. The teacher saw her hand and said, here is a hall pass. The girl’s bathroom is just down the hall. Susan didn’t know what to do so she snorted out loud and a number of other students laughed. Susan got up and walked up to the teacher’s desk and took the hall pass. As she passed William, he winked at her and said under his breath, “You’re cute Red.” Her face switched from pale to bright crimson.
It took a while for Susan to be accepted, but within a month she was enjoying herself and almost competing with anyone about anything. One day she was carrying a pile of library books to her locker and fumbled the entire group and each one fell, one after another onto the floor. William being near by laughed, but bent over quickly to hide his grin and picked up the books. Both Susan and William ended up blushing.
William caught a look at one book about females and motorcycles. “Red Suzi . . . you ride?” he asked. Suzi nodded. William continued, “You wanna ride Saturday?” “Suzi hesitated and then finally responded, “My dad’s gotta pick up my Honda Saturday morning at Two Tone Power Sports.” “William said, “We get our bikes serviced there, too. I ride at a friend’s place. Want me to pick up you and the bike?” Suzi shook her head and said, “Sure. My Mom thinks I take too many chances. She thinks I’m just pushing myself too much. Riding with someone experienced would ease her fears.” William grinned and said, “Noon. Your place.” Suzi said, “I’ll write down my address for you.” William blushed and said “I know where you live.” They both quickly walked away.
Saturday arrived early for both Suzi and William. William drove up carefully. Suzi introduced William to her dad who said, “Why William and not Bill or Billy?” William answered, “My dad goes by Billy. He was born at Tacoma General, but has always lived here in Spanaway.” Suzi’s dad said “Ahhhh. The Billy Bar?” Embarrassed Suzi tried to shrink down. William said, “Yep. He created The Billy Bar and it’s done well ever since.” “You work there?” asked Suzi’s dad. William responded. “I’m too young, but I clean up the place every morning before the door opens.” Suzi broke in and said, “I think we are ready to roll.” Her father nodded and William ran Suzi’s bike up into the back of the truck. When they drove away Suzi spoke. “I’m soooooo sorry Suzi started . . . “William just said, “Parents . . . they never grow up.” They both laughed at the joke and simply relaxed.
At the friend’s house they parked and William ran the two bikes off the truck bed. William let Suzi start the run, but soon realized he couldn’t keep up with Suzi. No matter what he did, she out performed him. After wards he had to ask, “How did you learn about bike riding? Suzi just laughed and said “When I was in grade school we played a game called “Red Rover” all the time.” William shrugged his shoulders and said, “What’s Red Rover?”
Suzi said, “It’s two opposing groups in a line. The object was to call a person of the opposition over to charge the line and break through. We would say something like “Red Rover, Red Rover, send William right over.” If they couldn’t brake through they became part of your line. If they broke through they could choose one person of the opposition and that makes for a stronger side.” Suzi thumped on her chest and said, “My side always won.” William looked at her and said, “Whoa . . . and I always thought you were shy!” Suzi, said “I am around most people, but I love competition.” William nodded and said “I understand. Last week at Two Tone I got a great photo of a girl on a Honda with her hair streaming out from under her helmet. I loved the thought and the image. It’s in my glove compartment. Suzi, opened the cover and looked at the photo and then said, “Would you like me to autograph it?” William nearly ran completely off the road as he hit the brake and parked a few feet from the highway.
