The Bicycle Shop

By William C. Knowles Ed.D.

The Bicycle Shop is a front for running a safe house in Kansas. The visitors coming and going are humans from other worlds and visit this world to learn and move forward. The “ranch” is run by a colorful older women and the program manager is the owner of the bicycle shop. William C. Knowles, Ed.D. is a retired former mental health and School Psychologist. He is also a retired US Army reservist who served in Vietnam as an Army paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was also activated for the war in Iraq and served during a 2004 tour of duty in the Northern Iraqi desert.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Nov 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781483492063

Book preview

11/01/2018

Chapter One

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M A SALLY LOOKED OUT OVER THE HORIZON, ENJOYING THE streaks of color in the Kansas sunset. A panoramic view she had seen many times that was never tiring. She calmly continued to snap the peas as she rocked slowly back and forth in an old chair. She looked over at her gray goose, staring at each other for that spit second that had become a frequent occurrence. She understood what the goose had to say. They had developed a way of communication that would be unnerving to those outside their world….had they known what was taking place.

Betty settled into a sleeping position using her beak to caress those soft feathers under her wings. She had just told Ma Sally, who sometimes she called Mother, the helicopter would be arriving soon. Until then there was nothing to do but relax and watch over the dogs and stay close to mother. She noticed her constant companions were lounging in the yard with Joe lying on his back with his legs in the air, and Hoagie sleeping.

The two dogs would look like ordinary Labrador retrievers to most people, except both had short legs similar to a basset hound. How exactly that happened is a source of local legend.

The prevalent story is a pheasant hunter came through with an amorous male Basset hound. During the several days of the hunt, the hound managed to fall in love with a Labrador female who later had two interesting looking male puppies. Even though the Basset hound is not known for being a bird dog, this guy knew how to fill his time running with the larger bird dogs. Regardless, the two puppies were not able to find homes due to their diminutive stature and Ma Sally fell in love with them and kept them on the ranch. A local prejudice worked against them causing most people to laugh while they ran around the yard looking like real Labs….but on stubby legs.

Ma Sally was finishing her green beans as she looked out at the puppies laying in the sunshine with their gray goose. She marveled at how much fun they had been watching them grow up, and how they had become part of the ranch.

Hard to believe they come out of the same litter, Ma Sally thought as she placed the beans in a large pail.

Especially Joe. He was the clown, the one always into trouble. Chasing the goose or pestering Hoagie into playing.

Hoagie on the other hand was just the opposite. He was the reserved one, the one who was quiet and thoughtful.

Samuel walked around the corner of the house carrying a small suitcase. He looked around at Betty and the dogs and had tears in his eyes.

I knew I had to leave here when I came, Samuel said as he sat on the front porch. It was the very best thing that could have ever happened to me. I was scared at first. I didn’t know what to expect. It had been a long time since I had a place and a family and I had walked on green grass and smelled natural air.

Ma Sally listened to him talk about how much he loved the ranch with its openness and freedom.

Samuel had taken longer than most to move forward, Ma Sally thought to herself.

He had come a long way from when he first got here. Many of the visitors were scared, but Samuel had had things happened to him. With him, there was a possibility he was not going to progress, to move forward to the modern era.

It always takes time, Ma Sally thought. "Depending on their history, some longer than others.

Ma Sally was a good listener. She needed to hear their stories and sometimes she had to listen to horrible things. She was picked for this job for her many skills, being a good therapist was one of them.

Many visitors who came to the ranch would stay a couple of weeks, others much longer. In all cases they were expected to move forward, to become a modern person and to be able to move freely around other people and to blend with others in a normal sense.

Samuel looked out over the ranch and had regained his composure. He was a good man and would be an asset to his next assignment. That could be anywhere. None of them knew what lay next for a visitor. They would be told later. Over the years several had been reassigned to the valley and local ranches. They were there to live and provide indirect support for the ranch and its visitors.

This was all arranged by Murphy.

Ma Sally looked over to Betty.

Betty was staring into Mother’s eyes telling her the helicopter was arriving soon. Mother gathered her beans in the pail, sitting them next to the door and looked at Samuel.

It’s been wonderful to have you here and we trust you’ll find peace and happiness the rest of your life…no matter where you are. Mother had given that speech several times in her life and she meant every word. Finding peace was a large part of moving forward. It took some visitors longer than others.

It must have been a curious site to see Ma Sally walking in front carrying Samuel’s small suit case with Samuel following carrying a bicycle box. The box was about five feet long and four feet high with the name of the bicycle company on the side. By appearances it would be an unassembled bicycle.

Behind Samuel were the two dogs. Faithful Hoagie and following him, Joe. Of course Joe couldn’t walk in a straight line and had to jump and play and chase an imaginary bunny or two. Behind them was Betty. She was alert to any danger, since out on the prairie there were many coyotes and stray cats.

The sound of the Helicopter was heard far away. A familiar sound in this part of Kansas. Many military helicopters flew across the western parts of the United States from bases like Ft. Sill in Oklahoma or Ft. Carson in Colorado. Many refueled at the local airport. An airport that once trained bomber crews for the war in Europe.

Once Ma Sally reached the landing spot, she reached in her apron and retrieved a military strobe light. After turning it on she held it over her head. This meant all was safe as the sound of the helicopter became louder and louder.

As the helicopter sound continued, the shimmering disk descended into the landing spot almost as if it had appeared from nowhere. The black disc seems to have the stealth like ability to merge with its surroundings. A difficult craft to see unless you were close by and knew what you were looking at.

The portal of the circular craft opened and a tall man came down the ramp carrying a small suitcase. He greeted Ma Sally and shook hands with Samuel as Samuel slide the bicycle box into the craft.

Samuel turned and gave Ma Sally a last hug.

I love you and thank you for all you’ve done for me, he said. You will always be with me and I promise to make it all worthwhile.

Samuel waved one last time as he walked up the ramp of the craft and disappeared inside. Once he was through, the door did not slide close as much as it melted into the frame of the craft leaving no tell tale signs of there having been a door. The craft ascended vertically disappearing in the midst of the sounds of a departing helicopter, leaving the little group standing out on the prairie in the cool spring evening.

The tall man closed his eyes and raised his head breathing in the unfiltered air. The fresh air seem to energize him in seconds as he stood breathing deeply. He opened his eyes and stared at the multitude of stars and noticed several moving objects crossing the sky.

This was home, he thought to himself.

He needed this more than anything. He knew he would regain his health every minute he was here and he was thankful to be back on real earth and breathing real air.

Of course, Joe would be the first to jump on the visitor and make friends. The tall man didn’t know if he was being attacked by a wild animal or this was normal.

When one of the visitors left and another one arrives, there were always those feelings of sadness, of losing someone you had grown to love. You watched them adjust and grow and move forward. You knew what kind of people they where and why they were here. Eventually, you learned why they had been selected.

Change is one of the hardest things in life, Ma Sally thought as they were walking towards the house. Tall man’s name was Jonathan. We’ll call him John.

Ma Sally used to wonder why the Other’s always chose old biblical names. Maybe since they go back to the beginning and have watched all of us progress over the eons to where we are now, she thought to herself.

Suddenly, Joe barked and ran off into the darkness. He probably thought he was going to catch one of the local jack rabbits. He needed a lot of luck. Those bunnies were tall and fast and could easily out distance the little Lab running on undersized legs. It was kind of comical to see him get excited.

Let’s set awhile on the front porch and talk a minute, Ma Sally said as she walked over to the house and sat in her favorite rocking chair.

She looked over and locked into a long stare with Betty. Their looks were more like communicating in a telepathic way, and Betty was always the watcher, the one who Mother looked to for advice.

He’s not from here, Betty transferred to Mother as she preened her feathers under her wing.

John come and sit, we’re so glad to have you on the ranch. I hope your trip was good. We have had visitors who were very tired and had jet lag, so if you feeling poorly, don’t hesitate to say so and we’ll get you some rest so you’ll be feeling better in the morning, Ma Sally said as she was measuring this new guy up.

She liked what she saw and thought this was going to be a good visit for this tall guy named John. She wasn’t worried he was not from around here. She had had others at the ranch that originated from some other place….and there were so many other places. In her mind it was like having a guest from a foreign country.

John sat quietly on a porch chair and listened to Ma Sally talk about the ranch and her visitors over the years. He instantly liked this lady and thought her reputation was well deserved. As she continued telling how Jerry the mule yelled at the bunkhouse every morning at five o’clock, she pulled a pocket knife out of her apron and began cutting on a piece of wood.

She’s always armed, thought John. An interesting thing about people from here, I’ve been told.

Ma Sally continued, We know you’re not from here, and we want to make sure your stay is helpful. In the past there have been others from other places that came for all sorts of reasons. All were well selected and did just fine and we’re sure you’ll do as well.

A version of southern talk where she uses the word we’re but really means she is," John thought to himself.

He remembered studying the different forms of speaking before deciding to visit this ranch. Ma Sally’s version was of a Southern heritage, a polite form that had to be listened to carefully. He remembered some of the humor from that part of the country. Southern women were able to tell you to go to hell and make you enjoy the trip.

John laughed under his breath. He had read about southern styles of speech several weeks prior and couldn’t wait to really talk to someone who talked that way.

Although he was on the western Kansas Prairie, he knew the history of the area. There was much southern influence in this area with many people having immigrated after the country went through a civil war.

Ma Sally sat rocking in her chair slowly as she and John talked about small things. John was especially curious about little things around them, the flowers, the animals and the weather.

He must have come from a really different place, Ma Sally thought as she finished cutting on the piece of wood.

She watched him intently with her deep brown eyes. Once in awhile she would gesture pointing her finger at this or that. Her fingers were starting to be crooked from the rheumatoid arthritis common in her family. She could feel the pain in the joints of her feet and she knew there would be a day when she wouldn’t be able to walk.

I’m not from here, John finally disclosed.

Ma Sally just nodded and said noting.

I’ll let him talk as much as he wants and tell why he’s here, Ma Sally thought to herself.

Joe being Joe, bounced up on the porch panting as if he had chased some lucky bunny for miles. Everyone laughed as he rolled over on his back hoping some unsuspecting fool would give him a rub.

John reached over and scratched his under sides and Joe had made a new friend. It was just that easy. Hoagie sat quietly watching his brother make a spectacle of himself. Betty sat next to mother and began to stand and spread her wings as if to stretch and relieve some internal ache.

Betty began to walk towards the small house next to the large tree in the front yard. A house one of the visitors had built when the puppies first came to the ranch.

As if by some internal cue, Hoagie got up stretched and followed her to the little home. Joe quickly followed realizing he had made friends and had had a big time. All three entered the house and settled in for the night. Always with Betty in the middle. When they were puppies she would spread her wings over them during the night to keep them warm. They would lie close to her and quietly sleep thru the night.

Jacob and Josh came around the corner and Ma Sally introduced them to John. All seemed happy to see each other. The other two visitors had been on the ranch a couple of months and said they were enjoying themselves. Both were excited about an upcoming mountain bike trip to Palo Duro Texas. They had been once before and they went on about how much fun it was.

Murphy who owned the local bike shop would be their tour guide.

John had heard about Murphy. He was the one in charge when it came to visitors staying at the ranch. He was also there to help a larger colony of visitors. These were visitors who had stayed at the ranch and who had decided to stay. All because the area had much to offer for people like them.

John had read Murphy’s history. A US Army Veteran from two wars. Doctorial level Psychologist spoke three languages and had a long relationship with the Others.

Murphy was one of their favorites. Once his name came up they all had a smile on their faces, especially the females. They really liked this guy.

Murphy will be here in the morning, Ma Sally said as she continued to rock in her rocker. The boys will get you settled into the bunk house and we think you’ll find it comfortable. If you’re hungry, I can rustle you up some food.

John wasn’t sure what rustle up meant but he believed it meant if he was hungry she would fix some food for him to eat.

No thank you Ma Sally, I’m fine and just glad to finally be here and to be with such wonderful people. I’ve heard about the ranch for years and knew when I got the chance I would be coming. There’s a waiting list. Everybody talks about how refreshing and rejuvenating it is to experience the western Kansas air and sunshine.

As the guys walked around the house towards the bunkhouse, a lonesome sound of a railroad train could be heard in the distance. Ma Sally continued to rock and listen to the far off sound. A sound she had heard many times in her life as she waited for George to come home.

George was a railroad man and never drove a car. He would always buy a house next to the train stops and he used the trains to come home.

The sounds of the train made her sad. The lonesome call of the train brought tears to her eyes and caused her to feel a loss and ache in her heart. She was used to wiping many tears with her apron. Regardless, she would never live anywhere she couldn’t hear that far off sound.

It would always remind her of him. He had been by her side for many years. Thru wars, depressions and burying a couple of their own children, she needed that sound.

The western Kansas night sky could be spectacular. Stars upon stars all blending into a mass so large it went from horizon to horizon. Occasionally, a shooting star would streak across the sky and Ma Sally would grin at the spectacle crossing overhead at unfathomable speeds. She knew her old friends were watching what was going on and if she needed them for any reason they would be here.

I’m glad we got John, she said under her breath. He is a fine sort and we’ll enjoy his visit and learn many things from him.

She continued to ponder John’s history and how he originated from another world. Not surprising in this universe. It was a lot larger and more complicated than most would understand.

Never to mind, he’ll fit in and they’ll like him, she said. He’ll bring some skills with him they haven’t seen and soon he’ll be very popular because he is a healer and will be one of our local Doctors. He’ll bring treatments to these people that he’ll subtly introduce and cure many of the ailments. He’ll do this in the time he has here and there is always the possibility he’ll stay for an extended visit. It’s all happened before.

Ma Sally was also getting tired, she looked over to Betty and the bird was lying in between the puppies. Joe was snoring loud enough to wake everyone, but everyone had gotten use to the little dog and no one really minded. Betty was awake and looked over to Mother as they locked eyes, love you Mother, she said.

I love you too, Ma Sally said as she turned and went to bed.

As Ma Sally entered the bedroom she turned down the kerosene lamps. She had electric lights, but kerosene was old school. For many who came to the ranch, it was lighting they were used to. Some visitors had never had electricity. They came from places less advanced. It was always fun to see them learn and grow knowing they would take their educations back and help their people.

It was always exciting to have a new visitor, Ma Sally thought to herself. John was going to be an exciting visitor to have on the ranch.

The bunkhouse was a single story building with a small porch and a front door with windows on both sides. As you entered the building, there was a full bathroom on one side and a storage room on the other. The hallway continued on with four spacious individual rooms, two on each side. Further down the hall, there was a large open day room with a dining area and a large fully furnished kitchen.

Perla will be here at five in the morning, Josh said as he turned on the television looking for a baseball game.

Jacob laughed at Josh, he’s always watching baseball. It’s the national pastime and a good conversation piece should you be talking to a local and need a neural subject, Jacob added. There are thirty national teams and everyone seems to have a favorite. Since we are in Kansas, the Kansas City Royals are local favorites.

Jacob looked at John, did you have any stick and ball games growing up?

John thought for a minute and said, yes we did, we had teams and played games.

Jacob replied, the reason I asked….stick and ball games seem to be almost universal. American baseball is just that, a stick and ball game with two teams playing each other….you’ll catch on quickly.

Back to Perla, Josh said. She’s an old army buddy of Murphy. They met in Iraq and once he got this assignment, she was recruited to take care of us. She comes in early and cooks the morning meal and cleans the bunkhouse and cooks lunch. She always leaves food for dinner and she works till about one in the afternoon.

Here I have a watch for you, Jacob said as he handed the watch to John. "It’ll help you get orientated to the local time. We have twenty four hours in a day….but our watches only register twelve.

A curious cultural twist, Jacob laughed.

Why not have a watch that has twenty four hours on it? John said under his breath.

Jacob continued with a description of the overall ranch and what they usually did during the day, how many chores needed to be done and how many different types of animals were here.

Several of these animals I’ve only seen in books, thought John.

What is a buffalo? John asked Jacob.

It’s a large bovine like animal that is not domesticated. Here is the difference between wild and domesticated as if the animal has been bred to produce meat or wool, or milk. Wild animals have never had their genetic endowment interfered with through any type of selected breeding."

Jacob continued with the description of how the buffalo was different from a cow.

You’ll see two young female buffalos in the morning, Jacob finished.

One other thing we need to tell you about Ma Sally. Jacob looked a little puzzled as he continued. She is the most wonderful person you’ll meet, she’ll be like that grandmother you never had and always wanted, but she sleep walks, Jacob said in a nervous kind of way. If you wake up in the middle of the night, no matter how hot it is outside and she is covering you up with one of her home made quilts….don’t worry. She picked up the behavior many years ago when the country was in an economic depression and times were very hard and she lived with her family in a place southeast of here that had severe winters. She made these quilts you’ll see on each of the beds and she would get up at night and cover up her children.

Jacob grinned as he continued tell the story.

It was apparent he loved and adored the old lady, John thought.

No one told us about her doing that, Jacob continued. Josh and I came home together and no one else was here, so in the middle of one night she came in and it was a little surprising to us. But we just went along with her and after she left we took the quilts off since it was during the summer and it was hot as hell outside.

John had seen others develop curious behaviors as a result of some natural or manmade disaster. Covering up your kids in the middle of the night was mild compared to others problems he had seen.

Jacob added. There’s another character we need to tell you about. His name is Jerry and he is the ranch mule. Jacob was laughing as he tried to describe Jerry.

He is a left over from when the used to plow a garden, although I don’t think he ever did any work. At exactly five in the morning he’ll be at the fence yelling his hew haw till someone gets up and gives him his breakfast.

Jacob was laughing as he looked over at Josh, its Josh’s turn in the morning. We take turns feeding the guy so you’ll have your turn in a few days once you get settled.

These guys make you feel at home…..like family. John thought for a minute and asked. Who does Perla think we are?

Jacob thought for a second and said. She thinks this is a safe house for special government or military personal.

Murphy is our liaison to an intelligence unit which is at the highest levels of this government. Perla thinks we are Americans or Allies that either have been on a mission, or we are about to go on one. She has received the necessary clearances and she is paid very well."

Jacob continued. There is a large colony of visitors which decided to stay in this area. As time goes on you’ll meet them. Never talk our business with anyone, including fellow visitors. Knowing who they are is only a precaution should there be a serious situation and you need help.

Josh had joined the conversation, it must have been during a commercial. He jumped in with, there are also several assets that are on the payroll similar to Perla. You’ll meet them and they all believe….like Perla, we are a safe house and they are to support the effort. Murphy is the ring leader of this area and he is a very capable guy. You’ll meet him in a day or two.

Josh continued with, one other thing about western people in the United States. In general they are not openly curious about other people. They mind their own business and they are not overly hospitable, they think they are….but they’re not. So don’t expect anyone from here to be overly friendly or have the social graces you might expect in other parts of the country.

John pondered what Josh had said. Maybe that’s one of the reasons many have stayed for extended periods of time and some permanently.

Both Jacob and Josh agreed.

John said good night and retired to his room. He felt very homey and comfortable in this little cabin and thought he had made friends with Josh and Jacob. This was good, since you never knew when you’re lives would cross again. He was a little bothered by seeing Samuel as he exited the aircraft.

The two of them had a history from another place. He had learned that Samuel came to the ranch with many problems and took a long time to move forwards. As with many, John knew he might never see Samuel again.

He rolled over on the beautiful homemade quilt and said under his breath, I am grateful to all for bringing me to this place safely. In seconds….he was asleep.

Chapter Two

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T HE FIVE O’CLOCK SOUNDS ASSAULTED JOHN FROM ALL DIRECTIONS. Just as Jacob had predicted there was a large animal outside his window braying over a rail fence. He heard Joe running around the yard barking at some unknown creature, maybe even unknown to him. There were sounds of people talking in the kitchen and he thought he heard the sounds of a woman crying. He quickly got out of bed and looked in the closest and found a wardrobe full of different types of clothes. He found what he thought were work clothes so as to fit in with the rest of the group.

He was correct. Perla was talking to Jacob and she had been crying. John also noticed she was advanced in her pregnancy.

Jacob said, Perla this is our new guy, his name is John and he will be staying with us for awhile. She nodded as she wiped away the tears on her face.

John could see she was a young woman in her late twenties who had a beautiful smile and was very attractive.

Good morning Perla, don’t let me interrupt. I see your upset, John said as Josh handed him a cup of coffee. John wasn’t sure what the black liquid was, so he took a sip of the bitter concoction.

Josh laughed as he said, milk or sugar or both?

John thought both might make the