I was pacing up and down my room while talking on the phone. Mid-sentence I paused, because something outside had caught my attention: something with red and white polka dots, which was moving away slowly. Something that unmistakably was my bike.
“Somebody is taking my bike! I’m hanging up!”, I exclaimed, after which I quickly opened my balcony door, rushed outside and yelled at the guy to get his attention (Hey you!). He didn’t seem to hear me, and I didn’t particularly enjoy yelling at strangers from my balcony. So I went back inside and closed the door. But nobody steals my bike that easily! So as quick as I could, I put flats on my feet, grabbed my keys and with my phone still in my hand I slammed the door behind me as I ran down the stairs of my building. I took a sprint over the sidewalk as I imagined getting some strange looks from passing car drivers. 
The distant silhouette of the man turned into a real size fellow that I was quickly approaching. I started to realize that I hadn’t really thought my plan through up until chasing the guy. So a few steps behind him I slowed my pace, adjusted to his gentle walking speed and started walking next to him. With a semi-calm voice I said: “Ehh, that’s my bike”. Because, you know, it was my bike and I didn’t know what else to say.
He was obviously surprised. Then he started to say ‘sorry’ a million times. I felt a mixture of confusion, adrenaline and growing annoyance. Why the hell did this guy think it would be OK to take my bike? That’s not how things work. I like my bike. I painted it myself. And I know it is old, but it is mine, not his.
So I started an interrogation right there on the sidewalk. Why did he take my bike? What was he going to do with it? Where was he from? Where did he live? Where did he eat? Where did he sleep?
He explained that he thought my bike was garbage (ouch) because it had a flat tire and stood outside (there is a designated place to put bikes. There are at least five other bikes in front of every building in the street). My bike did have a flat tire and is really old and crappy, but I was planning on fixing that, the flat tire part at least. He wanted to trade in the metal for a couple of euros to buy food. As I started to calm down I learned that he was from Greece and lost his job. He came to The Netherlands but was on the street and ate either at the church or whatever he would find in the garbage.
At this point I recognized a new feeling in my ongoing mixture of confusion: one of empathy. I didn’t quite agree with his methods, but I did believe his motivation of hunger was a real one. We stood opposite from each other, in silence. I didn’t really know what to do with the situation. It’s not like you meet up with your bike thief every day. The silence started to become awkward.
“I have a banana back in my apartment, do you want it?”
“No, no, no, I can’t. I just took your bike”
“Yeah whatever. Come on. Follow me.”
And so we walked back to my building. I took the bike from him, but it moved really heavily. “Let me help you”, he said. Instead I took my keys and unlocked my bike so the wheels could move freely again. That seemed really funny to me on multiple levels.
When we reached my front door, I grabbed my keys and came to a horrifying realization: my front door key was missing! That morning I went jogging and took the key from my keychain. Because I left my house in such a hurry, I didn’t check if I had put the key back. This whole situation was becoming more and more absurd. Luckily for me, my roommate turned out to be home and let me in. I grabbed some fruit and crackers (nearly the only edible things in my house at that moment) and walked back down to hand them over to the guy.
“Just please don’t take my bike again, ok?”
I’m not sure why I felt the need to make this explicit. Perhaps I didn’t really know what to say to him, how to say goodbye to someone who just took my bike. I didn’t mention that he shouldn’t take my other bike either. The one that was working properly and that I had used over the last two weeks. It felt as if owning two bikes was an inappropriate abundance, even though the other bike was really old as well.
“I instantly recognized my bike. Not a lot of people have red bikes with white polka dots.”
“Yes. If I ever see someone other than you around town with this bike I will bring it back to you.”
We said goodbye. I returned to my room. The whole thing had been ridiculously absurd.
At least I have a secret guardian bike watcher in the underground scene now. Too bad he doesn’t watch over my functioning bike though.
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42 Comments
marietta
July 3, 2013 at 15:05
hahahahahaha :D love how the story ends with him turning into a bike watcher! So weird that the guy is also frome Greece (like I am) !!!
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 14:51
I know! I had to think of you (because I don’t know that many people from Greece). At least you wouldn’t take my bike ;)
Trisarahtops
July 3, 2013 at 15:20
This post is amazing. I’ve gone from complete anger (if anyone stole my bike they would feel my wrath), to giggling away at you giving him a banana. I guess if anyone ever stole my bike I’d rather they did it for food than drugs at least. Great post and awesome bike!!
xx
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 14:52
Then at least you will be able to relate, I went through a couple of stages as well as you can imagine ;)
Crissy Candypow
July 3, 2013 at 15:40
Oh wow that is pretty crazy… D:
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 14:53
I know right? Sometimes I feel like the weirdest things just happen to me out of nowhere haha
joyce matula welch
July 3, 2013 at 19:15
That Marielle is quite a story, full of twists and turns. It was so good to read about a human connection.
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 14:53
:) Yes, I don’t know what I would have done if it hadn’t ended there…
bekswhoknits
July 4, 2013 at 01:21
This story made my day.
Oh and I have a little story to tell you. On my houseboat adventures I remembered my plan to leave crocheted hearts around for the next people to find.
I dutifully packed my red yarn, and the appropriate sized crochet hook.
On Sunday it was time to put the plan into action.
I had forgotten the pattern! It wasn’t on my ipad! If I had started this any other day but Sunday I would have looked it up on the internet, but we didn’t have reception then.
So my grand plan went by the wayside, and I left a flower. But we have Melbourne trip planned later in the year so I will definitely had the pattern with me then
:)
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 14:55
Oh no! But then again, a flower is pretty awesome too :) Haha, next time you will be super prepared!
Katherine
July 4, 2013 at 03:09
Oh my gosh!! That is an awesome story. Three years ago my nice mountain bike was stolen. But I didn’t see who took it :( But now I have a new bike, and a fancy lock so people would be very bold to try and steal it! And at night I keep it in my hallway.
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 14:56
Haha I have a crappy lock. Actually I have two locks but only one is working; the other one I put around it so it will look like it is locked and thieves will preferably take another bike with only one lock) But the second lock was already on my second bike.
Librarian Tells All
July 4, 2013 at 03:21
This is one of the most unusual stories I’ve heard all day. I’m glad it had a happy ending!
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 14:57
Haha I know, I didn’t even make it up! ;)
Loulou
July 4, 2013 at 05:02
Haha, this is so great. I’m happy you got your bike back! You reminded me of the time I chased a guy with a big dog all the way down the street in my slippers because he had let his dog do his business right on our walkway. Of course he didn’t come back and pick it up so I just shuffled home in my slippers and did it myself.
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 14:58
hahaha oh no! I can just picture you running ;)
Helen
July 4, 2013 at 08:52
I love the way you’ve illustrated your story, and the way you’ve explained your feelings of anger and empathy, what a tricky situation!
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 14:58
Thank you :) They were actually the first drawings I made with my new drawing tablet.
Laura Beth @ Perched on a Whim
July 4, 2013 at 11:11
Marielle, it sounds like you handled the situation with grace and humility. You let the thief have a voice, and you let him become a human. I am impressed. And in its own way, your very attitude was an act of love.
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 15:00
It was a really tricky situation: because you have all the things that are sensible to do and all the things that are good to do and all the things that you should do. It was very confusing but I guess I am happy with the way it turned out.
floating thru fields
July 5, 2013 at 00:54
ok wow you are amazing….that’s really great that you helped him out and gave him food. ps your bike is adorable :)
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 15:00
Thanks; I want to paint my ‘new’ bike too. perhaps as a summer project
Sarah Mc.
July 6, 2013 at 01:38
It IS an absurd story, but one that now belongs to you forever! That’s something to be grateful for. As is owning two bikes, haha! You have a lot more courage than I do.
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 15:02
Yeah although in the Netherlands everybody owns a bike. Quite often more than one. And I just handled without thinking of fear or courage really haha
Ry Pepper - Arts and Dafts
July 6, 2013 at 18:48
I LOVE this story…. LOVE! What a wonderful thing to document.
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 15:02
Haha yes I think I will be documenting more of my ‘everyday adventures’
All AG
July 9, 2013 at 13:29
I’m in middle school and I just found your blog! Let me tell you it’s so nice for someone to see positive and creative things. This post was amazing by the way! I love that you still encourage others to play and draw and have fun in life. :D
-All AG
Magical Day Dream
July 9, 2013 at 15:04
Hi All! Thank you for your comment. It inspires me immensely to hear that others like my positive creations :) I hope I do encourage that; it is at least something I try to do. Hope you will pop by whenever you like!
Maria
July 9, 2013 at 22:01
This was such a sweet story! I love when things turn out to be something else than (negative) expectations:) :) thanks for sharing!
Magical Day Dream
July 12, 2013 at 10:56
Yes, definitely better than the other way around!
Sydney
July 12, 2013 at 15:11
I’m in love with this post…it is absolutely adorable, coupled with the illustrations. Often times we tend to dehumanize thieves, criminals, and homeless men and women, but I think you did a good job of portraying the fact that they are living, feeling individuals, too.
Magical Daydream
July 16, 2013 at 06:43
Thank you. I wasn’t thinking about it that much; I just wrote down my experience.. which was this
Nerd Burger
July 14, 2013 at 23:14
IS this for real? Did this actually happen? Omg. I laughed so hard. I want to see your bike now. :) You are way too nice to give them a banana.
Magical Daydream
July 16, 2013 at 06:43
Yes. Like 2 weeks ago or so? There is a link in the post to my old bike :)
madeinminch
July 16, 2013 at 21:08
LOVE this :) thanks for sharing
Jen@madeinminch
Magical Daydream
July 17, 2013 at 21:40
You are most welcome :)
Carolynn Markey
August 2, 2013 at 13:58
O_O wow. No words. Uh, funny and sad all at once.
Magical Daydream
August 7, 2013 at 11:23
haha just like life sometimes ;)
Jò
August 2, 2013 at 14:00
lovely story, I laugh so much!
so glad to have found your cute blog, I love your “week challenge serie”, I think I will make some of them.
I follow you!
ciao dall’Italia
Magical Daydream
August 7, 2013 at 11:24
Awesome! Welcome to my blog, glad you found your way to here. I would love to see what you come up with if you do take some of my challenges!
Marzia
September 16, 2013 at 13:58
I read a couple of your blogsposts, they are really cool and full of good spirit too… keep them coming! You’re brilliant! It’a real pleasure to read your posts!
Magical Daydream
September 18, 2013 at 21:46
Thank you so much for telling me. I hope to provide you with many more fun posts in the future! ;)