Alex Ko by Alex Ko Read Free Book Online Page B

City is a bike-friendly place, and around RAGBRAI, you couldn’t go more than a block without seeing someone riding. Everyone knew where we were headed, and people on the streets smiled and waved or honked their horns as we passed. I knew it wasn’t personal, but I still felt like they were talking especially to us. “Congratulations,” I imagined they were saying, “You did it! You beat cancer!”
    When we finally reached the official rally point, it was like a giant street fair. There were blocks and blocks of food stalls, games, and street vendors selling souvenirs. We locked our bikes to a lamppost and wandered through the crowd.
    “How are you doing?” I asked Dad. The ride had been his idea, but I couldn’t help but worry. Even though there were no signs that his cancer had returned, he still had bad days when he had no energy and everything hurt. If getting there had been too hard for him, I figured we could enjoy the festival and skip the ride. The important part wasn’t what we did, it was that we did it together.
    “I don’t feel good,” Dad replied.
    My heart started pounding. If I called Mom now, I wondered how soon she could pick us up. Or maybe we should just find an ambulance , I thought. I scanned the crowd for an emergency first-aid station.
    Then Dad laughed.
    “I don’t feel good,” he repeated. “I feel great! It’s a beautiful day, I’ve got my boys with me, and we’re going to hear Lance Armstrong speak. And I can’t wait to get back on my bike!” He put one arm on my shoulder and the other around Matt. Together, the four of us made our way to the stage where Lance was being introduced.
    I was so excited I could barely contain myself.
    In fact, I was so thrilled to hear Lance talk that I didn’t listen to a word he said. I spent the whole time thrilled. Wow! That’s really Lance Armstrong! Then, the next thing I knew, he was getting off the stage. I’d been there for the entire speech, and yet somehow I managed to miss the whole thing. I know he talked about cancer research, and raising money, and making a difference, but if you asked me now, I probably couldn’t tell you a single specific thing he said.
    Oh well , I thought to myself. At least I can say that I heard him. That means something!
    I was a little bummed out, but I didn’t let it show—mostly because I didn’t want Dad to know that I’d daydreamed through the whole talk. As Lance stepped offstage, the four of us began to worm our way out of the crowd and back to where we’d left our bikes. But it was impossible to get anywhere. There were thousands of people, some milling around the booths, others trying to get on their bikes and head to the starting place. We managed to move about three feet in ten minutes.
    “Excuse me,” Dad said. “Sorry! Coming through.”
    People tried to get out of the way, but there wasn’t anywhere for them to go. The crowd pushed us this way and that. I stumbled over someone’s foot and looked up to apologize.
    “I’m sorry,” I said to the tall man before me wearing bright yellow. He looked down at me and smiled, and that’s when I realized:
    I’d just stepped on Lance Armstrong!
    “Hey man,” he said. “It’s cool.”
    “You’re—I—you!” I was so excited, I couldn’t speak.
    “I’m Lance,” he said. “Lance Armstrong. You guys riding today?”
    He gestured at John, Matt, Dad, and me. We all nodded furiously.
    “I’m Alex,” I introduced myself, and so did Matt, John, and Dad.
    “Alex, John, Matt, Sam,” Lance repeated. I felt a chill run up my spine. Lance Armstrong knew my name! “Good luck.” He smiled. “I’ll see you out on the route!”
    He shook each of our hands and then turned back to his friends. The crowd shifted again, and as suddenly as he had appeared next to us, he was gone. I couldn’t believe it. I’d actually spoken to Lance Armstrong! It was a dream come true.
    “Wow!” Matt said. “We should have gotten his