Ride or Die

I go on adventures with people other than my family. When I was 12, my best friend Jackie invited me to go with her family to Wisconsin. She wanted me to come with her to ride ATV’s and motorbikes that she was bringing up to Wisconsin. Honestly, I was nervous at first. I had no idea how to ride. Her dad just smiled at me and said that he would teach me how when we got there. We were getting there by motor home so I thought that was fun. My friend and I messed with each other a lot. We played games on the trip, but it was hard since the game pieces would shift whenever we were on a curvy road, but it was fun all the same.


When we actually got to Wisconsin and to the place we were going, I was surprised. There was a huge dirt course to ride on. There were even some man-made hills to do tricks on. In my mind I thought, “How am I going to learn how ride on this course?” I would answer my question soon enough.


When we got settled and got the ATV’s and motorbikes out, Jackie’s brother and his friend went on the track right away. I stood still not having a clue what to do. Jackie’s dad reassured me that I would be able to do it. He sat me on an ATV and showed me the gas and brake and told me time and time again not to press the gas hard or I would accelerate way too fast. Well, I learned that the hard way. I meant to press the brake, but instead I pressed the gas and headed straight into a shed. Somehow I stopped myself with my feet. It wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but it stopped me from smashing into it. I scared Jackie’s dad senseless because he surely thought I was going to hurt myself. I did a lot of crazy things riding that ATV.


I eventually got used to riding and then started to ride on the course. It was really fun for me. I went up hills and made sharp turns and I really had a feel for the course. Jackie and Jackie’s dad were impressed that I got the hang of it so quickly. I was able to do it faster and faster. I wasn’t afraid anymore, but I did something a little insane. I was so happy I had a helmet on for this.


I went around the course again like I usually would and I was going up a steep hill. I was doing it fine before, but something went wrong. I was pressing the gas, but the engine was stalling. It was a good thing I had fast instincts. I let go of the ATV because it was starting to flip backwards. It almost flipped on top of me. If I didn’t move I would have been crushed. Jackie came running to me, but I was just laughing on the ground so happy that I didn’t hurt myself. She smiled at me saying that was the coolest wipe out ever. I will never forget that day. I would do that all over again and I got the chance the next time she invited me.