I was a lucky kid.

This bike was replaced by a gold Schwinn, which had headlights.

The magazine must have been the American Legion publication; my dad was a member. My mother no doubt put it down: you couldn't put the kickstand down on the floor, because it would leave a mark. That stuff was remarkably susceptible to indentations.

I'm sure I got a merit badge for bike safety; should have gotten one for "concealing disappointment tha the plastic handlebar grips cracked and loosened and quickly became useless."