Simone helps Mina onto her bike and adjusts the seating. Mina's legs were surprisingly long for a 11 year old. Their father was seated on a park bench a few feet away. He was on his phone again, taking a call from the Mrs.
He also had her on speaker phone.
Simone pushed the bike farther away the moment she heard Rebecca's voice.
Mina's ears perked up at the noise. "Oh, it's mummy."
Simone pushed them farther away. "Don't worry, you can talk to her when you see her. Now focus. You need to be steady to ride safely."
Mina clutched the handles tighter. "I'm a lot higher on you bike then my own, but I like it. Makes me feel tall."
Simone bit her lip. "I neglected to bring a helmet. Be careful. If you fall and get scratched, your dad won't let me hear the end of it."
Mina was confused. "My dad?"
"I meant, our dad. Okay, I'm going to let go now. Are you good?"
Mina nodded. "I can do it."
Simone removed her hands from the seat and the handle bar, intending to jog next to her, but was suddenly forced to sprint when Mina suddenly accelerated, her skinny legs pedaling like she was in a race.
A wild laugh left Mina's lips as she shot forward.
Simone cursed as she ran. She was so sleep deprived. She so did not have the energy to run like this. "Slow down, Mina!"
"But it's no fun going slow! Woooo!"
Simone stopped running as she was out of breath. Rarely did she run for anything. She placed a hand on her knee and massaged the stich at her side. She used to be super fit. Not chase down a bicycle fit, but she had way more stamina in her late teens.
"Damn, only 26 and I already feel like an old lady." Her eyes widened in alarm as she stood back up. "Mina! Don't ride so far I can't see you!" Simone began jogging even though her body and head hurt with each bounce.
"Mina!"
"I'm over here, big sister!"
Simone followed her voice, breathing even harder and running sloppily down the asphalt track. Turning 90 degrees, she saw that her sister had gotten off the bike or rather she had fallen. Mina held the bike up even as she rubbed her elbow.
"I told you not to go so fast. Are you hurt?" She examined Mina's elbow. There was a faint bruise forming.
"I'm okay, big sister. I only fell a bit when I was getting off the bike. It was too high and my foot slipped." Mina smiled. "I'm not hurt."
Simone signed and took the bike back. "Come one. Let's go back. You need to put ice on this." She hoisted her sister back onto the seat and began to guide them back the way they came.
"I don't want to leave so soon, big sister. This park is so pretty." Mina pouted. "There aren't any bugs flying around."
Simone smirked. "Not yet, they'll come out soon enough."
Mina started talking about her science fair project again. Simone was amused to see how effective Mina was at distracting herself. The short attention span of a child was truly a thing of beauty sometimes.
Simone walked at a slow pace as she guided the bike. Once they reached the bench where their father was seated, he got up and examined Mina to ensure she was okay.
"So the two of you are done? Already? We've only been here for 20 minutes."
"Mina fell and hurt her elbow. She needs an ice pack."
Ronald's eyes bulged with shock. "What? How? Weren't you watching her? How could you let that happen?" He pushed her aside and pulled Mina off the bike, examining her elbow.
"It's my fault, Daddy. Big sister told me to slow down but I went too fast an---"
Ronald kissed her forehead. "Don't blame yourself, sweetie. You did nothing wrong. It's your big sister who's at fault." Ronald glared at Simone harshly, not bothering to keep an amicable expression for Mina. "I entrusted my daughter to you let her get hurt. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Daddy--"
"Hush, Mina. This is a discussion between me and Simone."
"It was an accident. But you're right, I should have kept a better watch on her. I accept the blame." Simone replied, her eyes downcast. Even after all this time, she still felt like a worm when faced with her father's anger. "We should get an ice pack for Mina."
Ronald scoffed and turned around, leading Mina back to his car.
Simone followed with her bike, her eyes staring at her feet. She wanted to get on her bike and pedal in the opposite direction. She wanted to get as far away from her father as possible. But Mina was here. So she would remain. Just until 5pm and this would be over.
Ronald placed Mina in the front seat and buckled her seatbelt. He watched through the rearview mirror as Simone placed her bike in his trunk and got in the back seat.
"We'll go watch a movie. That's the safest option." Ronald announced as he pulled out of the lot, heading towards the nearest theatre.
The drive was silent and tense. Ronald's jaw was set in anger and Simone kept her head down. She did not even answer Mina's questions as she was worried she couldn't speak without crying.
Mina kept glancing back at her big sister. She looked very sad and had covered her face with her hair. Daddy had hurt her by getting angry.
"Sister?"
"Daddy?"
Neither answered her.
Mina looked down at her hands, not knowing what to do. If only I hadn't gone super fast and fell than I wouldn't have gotten hurt and Daddy wouldn't have gotten angry at big sister and made her sad. This is my fault.
The silence stayed loud as they travelled to the movie theatre.