Henry And Beezus

“Henry pressed his nose against the windowpane and looked out at Klickitat street. The only person he saw was Scooter McCarthy, who was riding up and down the sidewalk on his bicycle. ‘I sure wish I had a bike,’ remarked Henry to his mother and father, as he watched Scooter. ‘I wish you did too,’ agreed his mother, ‘but with prices and taxes going up all the time, I’m afraid we can’t get you one this year.’”

Henry enviously watches his neighbor Scooter as he enjoys his bike. Henry’s conversation with his parents provides the reader with useful context by revealing that they cannot afford to buy him a new bike. This scene introduces the story’s theme of The Importance of Resourcefulness and Independence, as Henry decides to earn his own bicycle rather than waiting for his parents to buy him one.

“‘Gangway, everybody!’ It was Scooter’s voice. Leaning over his handlebars and pumping as hard as he could, he tore down the street behind the three dogs. He passed Henry and Robert and, swerving to avoid the dogs, caught up with Ribsy. He didn’t stop for the curb, but rode right over it with a tremendous bump. Then he flung himself off the bicycle and on top of Ribsy before the dog knew what was happening.”

Scooter’s heroics stop Ribsy from running away with the Grumbies’ barbecue meat and getting into a dogfight. This passage shows how Scooter’s bike allows him to be more independent, grown-up, and mobile than the other kids, adding to the bike’s symbolic nature in the story (See: Symbols & Motifs).

“Ribsy dropped the meat and Scooter snatched it. He sprang on his bicycle, wheeled around in the middle of the street, and started back towards the Grumbies’ house, holding the meat above his head with one hand. The three other dogs and Ribsy all chased after Scooter, barking and growling as they jumped up and tried to snap at the meat. Eluding them all, Scooter pedaled triumphantly down Klickitat street.”

Using the speed of his bike and his own ingenuity, Scooter is able to wrestle the meat away from Ribsy and return it to the Grumbies. This funny action scene also adds excitement to the story and solidifies Scooter as a cool and capable character whom Henry envies.