Spotlight on Annie Rose Welch’s Sparrow Way + Excerpt + Contest!

We cruise into the misty day, the sun barely shining through the many Monterey cypress trees that line the hilly area. Eva steadies her bike and releases the handle- bars. She spreads her arms wide like a bird spreading its wings.

As we peddle, I hear music in the distance floating from one of the houses on the opposite side of the street. I listen harder, trying to place the beat.

“Do you hear that?” I bounce a bit from the turbulence of the tires.

Eva grabs the handlebars. “I would never leave you alone…something, something, something.”

“Hell yeah!” I beat the handlebars with my thumbs to the heavy pace of the drums. “Eva, ‘I’ll be’…” I sing some of the song. “I love The Karate Kid! This place reminds me of the movie.”

“That’s about the only movie you do like.”

“It’s a classic, like Rocky. And if we weren’t riding these bicycles, I’d show you my karate moves! Hi-ya!” I chop the air. “What are you laughing about? You just don’t know the moves your husband has!”

“Hold on, Gabriel-san! Banzai!” Eva shouts, before we go flying down a steep street.

“I love it here. I feel like I can breathe better! The air seems lighter.”

“Don’t get used to it. “We’re not taking up permanent residency in the big shake.” I take the camera from the basket as the bole straightens out. I slow down a bit, getting a prime shot of her butt bouncing up and down on the seat. “The scenery is quite beautiful, though.”

She looks behind for a second. “Race you!” She starts going faster and I have to take the camera and throw it in the basket to peddle harder.

2014 © Annie Rose Welch