Pride. William Wharton

on to the handlebars and pulling the bicycle up on its back wheel. Sture has ridden many a cow in from the field and performed essentially the same kind of jump, so he’s not afraid.

      He works the pedal into position and pushes off. After a few yards of wobbling he’s on his way down the street. His strong legs, incredible agility and astounding sense of balance make it easy for him. He might have been the youngest person in Oshkosh to ride a bicycle. Bicycles at that time were for adults, definitely not toys for young boys.

      Sture has some difficulty turning at the end of the street but learns to tilt his body in the direction of the turn and masters it. He starts pumping hard up the slight hill back to the shop. All the shop men are out in the street watching him. They’re ready to catch him when he tries to stop. But Sture does his quick leap off one side of the bike, holding the handlebars tight so the bike rears up like a horse when its bridle is pulled back hard.

      There’s a moment’s silence, then the shop men break out in applause. The head of the shop comes over and tousles Sture’s head.

      ‘You’re really a wise guy there, ain’t you, buddy. I was fooled sure enough and thought you didn’t know from nothin’ about a bicycle, but you must work in some circus or somethin’. I never seed nobody get off a fast bike that way; I was sure you was gonna break your fool neck.’