The Bicycle Thief Read Online Free Page A

by themselves.
    â€œDo you hear that?” said Joe.
    â€œIt sounds like little kids crying—and Adam Ackerman yelling,” said Frank.
    â€œYup. Come on!”
    They followed the sounds to the kids’ playground. Adam was sitting on one of the swings,while two younger kids were sitting on the ground, crying.
    â€œBut it was our turn!” yelled one of them.
    â€œWell, it’s my turn now!” said Adam. “So beat it!”
    The kids ran away, still crying.
    â€œVery nice,” said Joe. “Picking on little kids.”
    â€œHi, Joe. Hi, Frank,” said Adam. He looked very happy about something. And Frank was pretty sure he knew what it was.
    â€œOkay, Adam, where is it?” said Frank.
    â€œI have no idea where your bike is,” said Adam. He pumped his legs and started to swing. The smile on his face grew bigger, until he swung too hard and made his foot throb.
    Serves him right,
Frank thought.
    â€œIf you don’t know where my bike is,” said Frank, “then how did you know that was what I was going to ask you about?”
    â€œLucky guess,” Adam said.
    â€œWe’ll see about that!” said Frank. Right as Adam was at the top of his swing, Frank darted forward and grabbed his right shoe.
    â€œGive that back!” yelled Adam.
    â€œI will. In just one second,” Frank said.
    Joe took out the notebook, and Frank held the shoe up to the drawing he had made. It was a perfect match!
    â€œI thought so!” said Frank. “You took my bike, and I want it back!”

    â€œI’m not telling you anything,” said Adam as he got off the swing.
    Adam grabbed for his shoe, but Frank wouldn’t let go.
    â€œGive me my shoe!”
    â€œGive me my bike!”
    They went back and forth, each of them pulling as hard as they could. Suddenly a voice yelled from behind them.
    â€œBoys! What is going on here?”
    Adam and Frank both let go of the shoe at the same time. They went flying backward, landing on their backsides. It was all Joe could do to keep from laughing out loud.
    â€œNothing! We were just playing, Mom!” Adam’s mother was standing at the edge of the playground, her hands on her hips, a suspicious look on her face.
    â€œAdam took my bike—,” Frank started to say.
    But Adam cut him off. “I took Frank’s bikeand moved it to a safe place!” he said quickly. “I saw he’d left it by the bike path, and I was afraid someone was going to steal it.”
    â€œYeah,” said Frank. “And I was just giving him his shoe so he could lead us to where he put it.”
    Adam’s mother looked at the two of them. Frank put his arm around Adam’s shoulder. They both tried to look innocent.

    Adam’s mother smiled. “Well,” she said, “how nice of you boys to help each other out! Okay, then, let’s all go get Frank’s bike.”
    At that moment Mr. Mack and Lucy caught up with them.
    â€œDid you find your bike?” Mr. Mack asked.
    â€œWe’re on our way to get it!” said Mrs. Ackerman.
    â€œGreat,” said Mr. Mack. “Let’s go!”
    Adam grumbled under his breath. He didn’t seem happy to have to give Frank’s bike back, especially because he had to do it in front of so many people. But it was better than getting in trouble with his mother.
    As they walked Frank elbowed Joe and pointed to Adam’s right leg. Sure enough, he was limping a little bit.
    Adam led them back to the road where Lucy had lost the track originally. He kept walkingdown the road. They passed people picnicking and passed the ranger’s station. They walked all the way to the statue of Bayport’s founding fathers and mothers. Adam turned off the road at the memorial.
    There was a small man-made pond and stream near the memorial. Frank and Joe often came here to throw the remains of their sandwiches to the ducks. On the bank of the river were a