The ride on the motorcycle to school was fun. We passed by some school buses that a lot of my buddies were on, and as we passed, they stuck their heads out of their windows, waved, shouted and smiled at us as we drove by. Once we got to school, all the kids came running up to us as I was getting off the bike.
"This is my best friend Mr. Papino" I shouted, introducing the crowd to Jose.
"Hello kids," he shouted over the sound of the bike as he began to turn it off and take off his helmet.
All the kids wanted to touch the bike... all over the place. It was like they never seen a bike up close like that. One thing for sure, they never seen a bike like this before!
"Wow" the kids said, stroking the long leather seat, side bags and all.... "Can we go for a ride" they all started chanting while jumping up and down anxiously....
"Well.... sorry kids, I don't know if your folks would go for that, and there are so many of you".... "Maybe someday...." he inserted as he handed me my book bag from the leather side-bags.
We both knew that I was the only boy privileged to ride on that bike, and that the bike was soon to be sold anyways. We were well into autumn, Halloween had passed, we did the orchard thing, and now, once we do the bike show at Turkey Fest, the bike is sure to go.... so, I would have to enjoy it while I could!
Like I said before; this festival is usually the last one of the season for the bikers since it starts to get cold heading into thanksgiving. This festival is like the year-end party, because after this, the bikers usually put their bikes away for the winter. The festival was coming up that weekend, and after that... down hill all the way into winter.... uggh.... I hate winter!
"Stop by after school," he whispered to me as I was getting ready to head to class. The first bell rang and that meant I had to get going. "Stop by.... I have something to show you!" ....and here we go again!
Now I had to suffer all day in class, wondering what it was this time?
As soon as the 3:30 bell rang-out... I was outta-there! I ran home and went straight into his house, crying out, "Mr. Papino... Mr. Panino....!"
"Out here!".... he called out from the back yard. I flew down the stairs and went out back to the workshop where, once again, he was at his sewing machine, working on some leather.
"What do you think?" he asked me, now holding up a leather item.
"What is it?" I replied....
"Well come here it check it out...try it on..." he said with an anxious look and smile....
It was a miniature leather jacket, just like the one he wears! It was beautiful.... wow....very, very cool....
"Go ahead, let's see if it fits you", he said.
So I eagerly tried it on and it fit well for the most part, but I was a little disappointed when the sleeves were way to long. At the time, I didn't understand that he was a Taylor, and that this was an easy fix....
So he then rolled up the sleeves that had encompassed my hands by several inches. He rolled up my sleeves, took out a marking pencil and drew a slash where the sleeves should end up....
"Not a problem" he said confidently... We always go long until we can get your measurements. I'll have it finished before the weekend party. We can ride in the parade together, matching outfits and all. Then you can help me at the booth I am renting. Then we are going to enter the contest or bike-show and try to take home a trophy, some cash prizes, and hopefully a check somebody may write me to buy ole Mike."
"Ole-Mike?" I replied in a questioning tone...
"Ole-Mike the Bike" he retorted.
So now we had Peppy the Puppy, Happy the Horse and Mike the Bike....WOW!
On his leather bike seat I saw the initials, "by J.P."; J.P. stood for Jose Papino; his trademark....
I noticed the same insignia on my new leather jacket.... then he informed me that it was "A designer jacket"; and that he was the designer!
Not only was the leather jacket hand-made, home-made and custom made to fit me; but it was also made by a serious craftsman who in his own little realm was kind of a famous designer!
"Okay, he said... take it off and I'll get you straightened out". As he began to help with take off this bulky coat with over sized long sleeves, my hands kind of got caught up in the leather. He began to help me pull my hands through, and once they were free, they flung around his neck and gripped him firmly. Once again, there we stood, hugging, laughing, crying and carrying on.... and...once again, here came running Peppy the Puppy, jumping into our arms to get some loving too. There the three of us huddled, laughed and smiled.... we were a little family!
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