Hinged on Faith

Chloe bounded out of the front door, down the front steps, landing in a stomp onto the driveway. She smacked together her 6 year old hands with a shrill and floated into his chest, an ornament dangling from his thick Tennesse boy neck.

Today was make or break, hinged on faith that she could make it.

"Can I help, daddy? Please? Oh, PLEASEEEE!?"

His eyes went twinkle for twinkle with Chloe's. "You see that wrench over there?" He pointed. His hands were massive; the ridges on his fingertips and lines of his palms were black with grease from the mechanic's shop he had worked at since he was 18. He could never scrub them clean. It made it hard for him to want to hold her. He would always be a Mechanic.

Chloe unclasped from his neck, landing in a thud next to her overturned BMX. She impatiently pirouetted, scanning a few tools on the pavement. She shrugged.

"Now. Chloe, remember what a wrench is? When would we have used a wrench?" He crouched down to eye level.

"Uhmm...." she smoothed her wild blonde mane in thought. "My desk?"

He smiled.

She nodded and surveyed again.

"GOT IT!" She bent down and picked up her father's wrench with two hands.

"Well, you, miss lady, are okay. Now, let's get these suckers off."

She smiled.

In Chloe's cul-de-sac, removing the training wheels would make her queen. She knew what was at stake. She was the only girl within 4 and 1/2 blocks. And none of the boys her age had dared, yet. Pretty soon, she'd be one of two, picking kids off the garage wall for a game of kickball.

They worked the nuts and bolts of the wheels. Greased the chain. Hosed down the red frame. Shined the spokes. Her father flipped the dirt bike upright with one hand. The tires bounced against the pavement.

He grinned at her, eyes wide saucers. "Well, whatcha waiting for, tiger?"

She was hesitant. He waited, holding the seat. She slung one tennie over the frame and sat down carefully, adjusting like a bull rider in the pen. She nodded.

"Okay, now stand up on those pedals, get a good push and just look ahead. Easy like..."

Chloe did as he directed. He trotted behind her. The seat left his fingertips and she sailed. "You got it! Now go get 'em!" He yelled after her. She screamed and giggled. Her feet peddling in little, quick circles. His smile widened and then narrowed again as he watched her form get smaller.

Today, he let something go that he loved very much. Today, he hinged it all on faith that she would do it. And hoped and prayed that what he loved, would always return.