Gunter smiled.
"You always said that."
Then he remembered something else.
Lily had never said she wanted a motorcycle.
She had only stared at photographs.
So he called Claire.
"Would Lily like to see something?"
Claire hesitated.
"What kind of something?"
"You'll know when you see it."
When Claire and Lily arrived at the garage, Gunter had covered the motorcycle with a black cloth.
Lily stared at the shape underneath.
"What's that?"
"Something I built."
"For me?"
Gunter smiled.
"Maybe."
She looked at her mother.
Claire looked confused.
Gunter pulled away the cover.
Lily's mouth fell open.
The yellow motorcycle stood beneath the lights.
She slowly walked around it.
She touched the handlebars.
Then the chrome mirror.
Then the tank.
"Is it real?"
"It's real enough."
"Can I sit on it?"
"Not until we go over the rules."
Lily groaned.
Gunter raised one eyebrow.
"First rule?"
She thought.
"Don't crash?"
"Good."
"Second?"
"Wear the helmet."
"Third?"
"Listen to Mr. Gunter."
Gunter nodded.
"That's the important one."
Claire stood several feet away, staring at the motorcycle.
"Gunter..."
"It's yours," he said.
Claire shook her head immediately.
"No."
"I wasn't asking."
"We can't take this."
"You can."
"It's too much."
"It's not."
"I don't have money."
"I know."
"I can't pay you."
"I don't want you to."
Claire looked at the motorcycle again.
"Why?"
Gunter glanced at Lily.
"Because someone once gave my wife a chance to ride."
He paused.
"She never forgot it."
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
Lily climbed onto the seat.
Gunter adjusted the helmet.