It was a bright and breezy morning in the little countryside town where Sumi lived with her grandmother. The golden sunlight spilled across the green rice fields, and the sound of roosters crowing mixed with the gentle hum of motorcycles passing by. Grandmother was preparing to go to the market on her electric bike, the same one she had owned for years—a sturdy old thing with a big basket in the front and a seat in the back that Sumi loved to ride on.
Sumi, wearing her favorite pink hat and blue sandals, ran out of the house, shouting, “Grandma, wait for me! I want to go too!”
Her grandmother smiled warmly. “Alright, dear, but only if you promise to hold on tightly. You know how fast this bike goes when we go downhill.”
Sumi nodded quickly, giggling as she hopped onto the back seat. She loved these rides—the wind rushing past her face, the smell of the fields, and the freedom of zooming down the quiet country roads. But today’s ride was going to be a little… different.
From the porch, Bon, the family’s playful brown dog, watched them getting ready. Bon wagged his tail excitedly. He loved chasing after the bike whenever Grandma took Sumi for a ride. It had become a kind of game—Bon would bark, run alongside them, and sometimes try to jump onto the moving bike!
“Stay, Bon!” Grandma said, laughing as she started the bike. “You’ll make us fall!”
But Bon, being Bon, didn’t listen. The moment the electric motor buzzed and the wheels began to turn, he darted after them with a burst of energy, his ears flapping and his tongue hanging out.
They rode past the small pond, past the old banyan tree, and into the dirt road that led to the village. Bon ran alongside them, barking happily. Sumi looked down and waved.
“Bon! You’re too funny!” she laughed. “You can’t ride, silly dog!”
But Bon had other ideas. When the road turned slightly uphill and the bike slowed down, Bon saw his chance. He leaped up toward the back of the bike—just a little jump to reach his best friend Sumi. But his paws hit the side, and before anyone could react, bonk! the bike wobbled.
“Whoa!” Grandma shouted, trying to steady it.
Bon’s front paw pushed against Sumi’s arm as he tried to balance, and poor Sumi, surprised, lost her grip.
“Ahhh!” she squealed as she tumbled off the bike onto the soft dirt road.
The bike stopped immediately, and Grandma turned around in shock. “Sumi! Are you okay?”
Sumi sat on the ground, wide-eyed, a little dusty but not hurt. Bon stood beside her, wagging his tail proudly, thinking he had joined the fun.
“You pushed me, Bon!” Sumi said with a little pout, brushing the dirt off her shorts. “You can’t ride the bike like me!”
Bon tilted his head and gave her a big sloppy lick on the cheek, as if to apologize—or maybe to say, “That was fun, wasn’t it?”
Grandma hurried over, checking Sumi from head to toe. “Thank goodness you’re not hurt, my dear,” she sighed with relief. “That silly dog just wanted attention again!”
Sumi crossed her arms, pretending to be mad. “Bad Bon. No more bike rides for you!”
But her frown didn’t last long. Bon, realizing something was wrong, lowered his ears and made the saddest face he could. He whined softly and rested his chin on her knee. Sumi looked down at him, and her anger melted away like ice cream under the sun.
“Okay, okay,” she said with a giggle, patting his head. “I forgive you, Bon. But next time, you have to wait, alright?”
Grandma smiled. “That’s my good girl. Now let’s get you both cleaned up before we go again.”
Back home, Grandma wiped the dust from Sumi’s knees while Bon sat patiently by the door, tail thumping softly against the floor. He looked guilty and curious at the same time, watching every move.
Sumi looked at him and said, “Bon, I know you just wanted to come with us. Maybe tomorrow we can go for a walk instead of a bike ride. Then you can run all you want.”
At the mention of “walk,” Bon perked up immediately and barked twice, tail spinning like a propeller. Grandma laughed. “He understood that one! You’ve got a smart dog there, Sumi.”
That afternoon, the three of them decided to go out again—but this time, with a plan. Grandma tied a little red ribbon around Bon’s collar and attached it to a leash so he wouldn’t run into the bike again.
“Ready, Bon?” Grandma said as she mounted the bike. “This time you stay on the ground, okay?”
Sumi sat behind her grandmother once more, a little nervous but smiling. “Don’t worry, Grandma, I’ll hold tight.”
The bike started, the motor hummed, and they set off again—this time with Bon trotting proudly beside them. He barked occasionally but didn’t try to jump. It seemed like he had learned his lesson.
They passed neighbors who waved, laughing at the sight. “That dog of yours almost became a passenger this morning, didn’t he?” one man joked.
Grandma chuckled. “Yes, and nearly gave us a heart attack!”
When they reached the market, Grandma parked near the entrance while Sumi helped carry the small baskets. Bon lay down next to the bike, wagging his tail at everyone passing by. He was a local celebrity now—everyone knew about the “bike incident.”
Sumi couldn’t stop telling the story to every vendor they met. “Bon pushed me off the bike! But I didn’t cry,” she said proudly.
The old lady selling bananas smiled. “You’re a brave girl, Sumi. And Bon just wanted to go on an adventure with you.”
They returned home later that day with bags full of vegetables and fruit. Bon trotted behind them, still on his leash but happy as ever. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
As Grandma unpacked the groceries, Sumi sat beside Bon under the mango tree. She looked at him thoughtfully and said, “You know, Bon, maybe one day when you learn to sit still, I’ll ask Grandma to let you ride in the basket.”
Bon wagged his tail and barked softly, as if to say, “Deal!”
Sumi laughed, hugging him around the neck. “But no pushing, okay?”
From the kitchen, Grandma called out, “Sumi! Bon! Dinner time!”
They both ran inside—the girl and the dog, best friends again. The day that started with a tumble ended with laughter, rice soup, and the warmth of home.
Later that night, Grandma tucked Sumi into bed. “You were very brave today,” she said. “And very kind to forgive Bon.”
Sumi smiled sleepily. “He didn’t mean it, Grandma. He just wanted to come with us.”
Grandma nodded, stroking her hair. “That’s right. Sometimes love makes us do silly things.”
As the house grew quiet, Bon curled up at the foot of Sumi’s bed, sighing contentedly. He was finally close to her—no bikes, no danger, just warmth and peace.
Before falling asleep, Sumi whispered, “Good night, Bon. No more pushing, okay?”
Bon’s tail wagged once in reply, and together they drifted off to sleep, dreaming of tomorrow’s adventures—ones that, hopefully, didn’t involve falling off a bike again.
