Rolf-The Neighborhood Hero

Once upon a time, in my little town, there was a hero named Rolf. He wasn’t like the superheroes in comics, but he was the coolest guy in our neighborhood. Rolf was the handyman who fixed things in everyone’s homes, and to me, he was like the mayor of our town.

Rolf was a skinny guy, and I couldn’t quite figure out if he was in his thirties or forties when I was a kid. He was bald, fit, and tan from working in the sun all day. He had a special way of talking, using slang and swinging his arms around like a rapper. It felt like he was talking to me and my mom as if we were his homies. He always called me “little Lauren Bacall,” and I was curious to find out who she was when I got the internet at 12. I was flattered when I discovered she was someone special.

One sunny Saturday morning, as I played in my garage, Rolf approached me. “Hey, lil Lauren Bacall, can you ask your mom if I can use your balcony real quick?” I had no idea what he meant, but I trusted him, so I went inside with him. Rolf was cheerful, and I didn’t mind him coming in; after all, everyone in town trusted him. He headed to the balcony, and I followed, curious about what he wanted to do.

“Yo Tina! I’m gonna use your balcony, okay?” he called out, but there was no response. Rolf didn’t seem bothered and continued to the balcony.

And then, the most amazing thing happened. There, on the balcony, was a tiny bicycle seat against the railing. I was puzzled. Rolf jumped up on the railing, balancing himself, and took the little seat, a “unicycle,” I later learned, 12 feet tall! He adjusted himself onto the seat, holding onto the railing for balance. I was scared, wondering what he would do next.

With a smile, he let go and floated away in the sky down the street. A man floating in the sky with a tiny little pole and one wheel spinning on the street as he disappeared into the sunset. I gasped with fear, and he looked over to me, saying, “Don’t worry, little Bacall, this is my favorite thing to do in the world!”

And just like that, Rolf became my sky-riding hero, forever etched in my memory as the magical handyman who could float on a unicycle in the sky.
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@laurenglasses