“And you won’t try to talk me out of it.”
“No, ma’am.”
The Princess Charity Ride was scheduled for a cool Saturday morning in early spring.
Doc had expected perhaps forty motorcycles.
By eight o’clock, more than a hundred riders had gathered.
Some were members of the Blue Ridge Riders.
Others had heard about Ellie through friends.
A few came from clubs that normally avoided one another except at large charity runs.
That morning, nobody seemed interested in territory or patches.
They parked in long rows with their engines off.
Doc insisted on that.
Ellie would get the first big sound when she was ready.
At 8:37, Sarah’s minivan turned into the lot.
The riders stood.
Ellie saw the motorcycles through the window and began hitting the armrest of her wheelchair with one small palm.
“Mama.
Mama.
Mama.”
Sarah laughed and cried at the same time.
Doc stayed beside his Harley.
For the first time since making the promise, he looked nervous.
Ellie was rolled from the van wearing her pink hoodie, a carefully fitted helmet, and the same pink ribbon style she had worn at the community center months earlier.
Mr.
Bumblebee sat in her lap.
When she saw Doc, she lifted one hand.
“You came.”
The words almost broke him.
Doc walked over and crouched beside her chair.
“Told you I would.”
Then he turned the wheelchair so she could see the machine attached to the Harley.
Ellie’s mouth opened.
For several seconds, no sound came out.
The sidecar platform had been painted mostly black to match the motorcycle, but the safety rail around her position was pink.
On its outside surface Doc had added a small painted crown without words or lettering.
Ellie looked at the ramp.
Then at Doc.
“That is mine?”
“For today.”
She touched the pink rail.
“You made a Harley wheelchair.”
Mack turned away because his eyes had filled.
Doc cleared his throat.
“Something like that.”
Loading her took nearly fifteen minutes.
There was no dramatic music, no cheering, no careless rush.
Doc and Sarah checked every restraint twice.
Another rider watched the mounting points.
Ellie’s position was adjusted until she was comfortable.
Mr.
Bumblebee went into his pocket beside her hand.
Finally Sarah leaned close.
“Still want to do it?”
Ellie looked offended by the question.
“Yes.”
Sarah kissed her forehead.
Doc swung onto the Harley.
