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Spring Break Caper
Kristen and Elliott parked their rental bikes at the rack and took a stroll down to the
beach. Upon return, they discovered Elliott’s helmet on the ground. But the bikes were
gone, STOLEN!
It seemed out of place. We were on the Florida panhandle in Seacrest Beach sharing a
house with a couple families for spring break. We’ve been several times before and it never
occurred to us to lock our bikes. But now we had an actual crime to solve. Inconceivable!
The kids were ecstatic.
Me? Not so much. Seacrest Beach Security swiftly referred me
back to the bike rental place on the village square. If I couldn’t
return those bikes at week’s end they would cost me $350 each.
I imagined a sophisticated crime syndicate, snatching bikes from
the little unsuspecting beach towns and selling them in big, bad
Panama City.
The bike guy said it was more likely teenagers taking them for a
joyride and dumping them in the woods. Thankfully the bike hut
doubles as the draft beer hut so my buddy Joel bought us a round.
We schemed to canvas the neighborhood and bandied conspiracy
theories about, including whether it was all a scam and the rental
place itself may have orchestrated the theft. Elmmm....
Kristen’s bike was an orange and blue Sun Cruz and Elliott’s
was a black number called Lil’ Sport. Both had green baskets (key
detail). Each one had a blue bracelet affixed to it — the kind they
use in clubs that snag your arm hair — that said “Sullivan, T.” We
figured even the dumbest of criminals would tear those off but the
bike guy said if we find any without the bracelets that match our
bikes to presume them to be stolen. Again, suspect number one
was bike rental hut. We checked parks and wooded areas, verified
name tags on bikes and stared down would-be hooligans.
The kids got in on the sleuthing action too, blanketing the
streets, telling anyone who would listen there were thieves about!
But actually finding the bikes seemed a lost cause. After sundown,
my other buddy, Schulzie, suggested we take one more ride around the ‘hood. By this
point, the most suspicious looking people were the pair of forty-somethings leering at
every bike rack they
passed.
But there was
something: near the
intersection of East
Blue Crab Loop and
Beach Bike Way was
a front porch full of
high school revelers
with nary a parent
in sight. A gaggle of
bikes at the far end of
the driveway begged
for closer inspection.
I figured we might
have easier access
early in the morning,
when dads tend to be
up puttering around
and teenagers are
entering their second
cycle of REM sleep.
Schulzie texted
me about 6 a.m.
“Ready to go on a
mission?” FFonestly,
I was still asleep but
half of parenthood
is performed in a
sleeplike state so why
not the stealing back
of stolen goods? Sure
enough our bikes
were there, “Sullivan,
T” and all. My
adrenaline pumped as
I sped away down Barefoot Lane on the reclaimed Sun Cruz. Eminem blared in my mind
“you better lose yourself in the music, the moment...” I never looked back for the mob of
idiot teenagers (who may or may not have awoken before noon).
Feeling $700 wealthier, I splurged on coffee for everyone at the fancy coffee shop in
Rosemary Beach, chocolate milk for Schulzie. Flow he can have three kids and no coffee
habit is beyond me but hey, he was the one who woke me up. The kids broadcast exactly
where the bike thieves were staying to other vacationers. Pint-sized justice was served. The
Security Patrol resumed apprehending the un-wristbanded from entering the pool area.
The now exonerated bike rental guy bought Kristen and I a beer for solving the crime and
I could see it in the eyes of the children — this was the coolest thing, ever. HU
TIMMY
DADDY
By Tim Sullivan
Tim Sullivan grew up
in a large family in the
Northeast and now lives
with his small family
in Oakhurst. He can
he reached at tim@
sullivanfinerugs. com.
559 Flat Shoals Avenue
4010 square feet* $1,100,000
Fabulous commercial space in the heart of East Atlanta
Village. Parking for 10 cars
2026 N. Ponce de Leon Ave.
6BR/6BA • $1,800,000
Spectacular historic home in Druid Hills
Carriage house + 3 car garage
1885 Westminster Way
4BR/3BA • $649,900
Charming home in Emory Grove
Renovation by Dovetail Craftsmen
663 Clifton Road NE
5BR/4BA/1HBA • $850,000
This stately home sits in the sweet spot of Druid Hills
and Candler Park/Lake Claire
Stephanie Marinac
404.863.4213 Cell | 404.352.2010 Office
stephaniemarinac@dor seyalston. com
One Hundred West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
1815 Meadowdale Avenue
4 BR/3BA • $950,000
Renovated Morningside home steps from Noble Park
Kitchen/Family Room overlooks large backyard
3649 Peachtree Road
3 BR/2BA • $399,000
Amazing square footage in this condominium
Great flow inside - Located in the heart of Buckhead
2142 Mountain Creek Drive
4 BR/3BA/1HBA 8 $325,000
Stately home on a 1 acre park-like setting
Beautiful natural light throughout
1760 Ridgewood Drive NE
3BR/2BA • $585,000
Beautifully Updated Single Level!
Very Private Lot with Pool
Harvin Greene
404.314.4212 Cell | 404.352.2010 Office
har vingreene@dorseyalston. com
1273 Oakdale Road
4 BR/3BA • $885,000
Beautifully updated Leila Ross Wilburn in the heart of
Druid Hills. Spectacular kitchen and family room with
630 Sherwood Road
5BR/3BA/1HBA • $849,900
History, Charm and Location! 1920 Leila Ross Wilburn
steps from Piedmont Park and the Beltline
AtlantalNtownPaper.com
May 2017 IlNtown 15