For the next several hours, he stayed beside her.
Claire had suffered severe exhaustion and dehydration.
She would recover, but the doctor warned her that she could not continue working the way she had been.
That night, Gunter called the club.
The Iron Saints responded before sunrise.
One member arranged temporary rent assistance.
Another found Claire a full-time job with health insurance.
Another repaired her car.
Another brought groceries.
Nobody asked for repayment.
It was simply what the club did.
Claire stared at the people standing in her kitchen.
"I don't understand."
Gunter smiled.
"You don't have to."
"But why?"
"Because you needed help."
She began to cry.
Gunter pointed toward Lily.
"Save the tears. Your daughter is watching."
Lily smiled.
"I already know they're good."
The crisis passed.
Claire kept her home.
Lily kept riding.
And Gunter kept building.
But the yellow motorcycle became something more than a gift.
It became a symbol.
At the next charity ride, Gunter announced that he wanted to start a program.
The club would repair or build small motorcycles for children whose families could not afford them.
They called it Little Riders.
The first year, they helped eleven children.
The second year, twenty-seven.
The third year, forty-two.
Gunter never charged a cent.
He did, however, require every child to complete a safety course.
"Kindness doesn't mean stupidity," he told them.
Lily became the youngest volunteer.
She handed out helmets.
She checked straps.
She reminded everyone to wear gloves.
And whenever someone asked why she cared so much, she pointed at Gunter.
"He taught me."
Years passed.
Lily grew taller.
The little yellow motorcycle became too small.
Gunter stored it carefully in the garage.
When she turned twelve, he surprised her with another motorcycle.
This one was larger.
Still yellow.
Still built by hand.
Claire cried again.
Gunter complained.
"You're going to ruin my reputation."
Claire laughed through her tears.
"You don't have a reputation anymore."
"What happened to it?"
"Your reputation is that you're the neighborhood grandpa."
Gunter pretended to be offended.
"I don't remember agreeing to that."
Lily hugged him.
"You don't get a choice."
He hugged her back.
"Fair enough."