A "Braking" Tale (in other words, a hilarious true story you simply have to read)

A "BRAKING" TALE

By Ellen Senechal

(and yes, the events portrayed in this story really happened to the author. Today.)

Weather where I live is so cold right about now. Just yesterday we experienced snow, sleet, and a whole lot of rain. Thus, I had no what I was thinking this morning when I agreed to join my older brother on a bike ride along the main road in our neighborhood. 
I slipped on two coats, one on top the other, a pair of gloves, and my tennis shoes. That should work, I figured. One glance at my pants, however, and I knew I was running a risk. Warm and thick, these pants are my favorite for the wintertime, but they're also really long. From experience, I knew that could prove to be a problem. For a brief moment I considered changing, but then decided against it. It's too cold for capris, and I don't have any jeans.
Long, baggy pants it was then.
The ride started off pleasantly enough. My brother and I biked along the shoulder of the road, observing the people and cars that passed by. I admired the evergreens, sunny sky, and other bits and pieces of nature as we sped along. The air was cold, but refreshing. I tightened my hold around the handlebars and fought to keep up with my brother. 
It was on the way back home that it happened.
I went to push down on the right pedal . . . and realized - too late - it wouldn't budge. Correction, my foot wouldn't budge. I looked down in time to see that the cuff of my pant leg had gotten caught up in the chain protector. 
I was stuck fast.
"Connor!" I shouted, but he was too far ahead to hear me. I raised my voice. "CONNOR!" 
His head swiveled around, and he braked to a stop. "What's wrong?"
"My pants are caught on something!" I hollered. I jerked my leg, but to no avail. Then I tried to pull back on the pedals. Still nothing . . . and now I was headed right for Connor on a bike that (inconveniently) had no way to brake except through the pedals. 
I swerved to keep from hitting him and barreled on. "I can't stop! Help!"
Writing this out now, the incident seems almost funny, but at the time . . . it sure wasn't. It all happened so fast and all I could think was, Stop! STOP! I was too panicked even to pray. I mean, c'mon. I was on the main road, cars going this way and that, and here I was with my pants caught in the gears??? Oh, and great. Just when I was sure things couldn't get any worse, here came an old man and his dogs.
For sure I was gonna hit them.
Desperately, I pawed at the ground with my left foot, but I was going too fast for that to make even a bit of difference. From behind, Connor was shouting. Something about still being able to stop or . . . something. I glanced to my right. Grass. I could run into that . . .
No, it steeped too far downhill, and just beyond were mud puddles and trees. Ick.
Okay, plan B. Try again with the pant leg. I gritted my teeth and gave a violent yank. Yes! My foot was free! But now . . .
Clank, clank, clank.
I'd wrenched the chain protector out of place. Every time I turned the pedals, they collided with the protector. 
Talk about embarrassing, annoying . . . but boy, was I ever thankful to be able to stop again! 😂
And you know what? This little episode served as a reminder to me that, no matter how fast I may feel life is going, God has me. Even when I can't stop the circumstances that surround me, and I feel like I'm about to crash, He has His hands on me. No matter how crazy things become, I can rest in the knowledge that HE > i.

Blessings,

Ellen S.