如果你给我五块钱，我会永远做你的朋友。那个小的这么对我说。

五块钱很便宜，因为我没有任何朋友，除了凯茜，她是我星期二之前的朋友。

五块钱，五块钱。

她想找人凑钱，那样，她们可以从那个叫提陀的小孩那里买一辆自行车。她们已经有十块了，她们再添五块钱就够了。

只要五块。她说。

别和他们说话。凯茜说，你难道看不出来他们闻起来像扫把？

可是我喜欢她们。她们的衣服又皱又旧。她们穿着锃亮的礼拜天的鞋子，却没穿短袜。鞋子把她们的光脚踝擦得红红的。我喜欢她们。尤其是那个大的，笑的时候露出一口牙齿。我喜欢她，尽管她让小的出来说话。

五块，小的说，只要五块。

凯茜在拽我的胳膊，我知道，接下来我不管做什么，都会让她永远生我气的。

等等。我说着跑到屋里拿了五块钱。我自己存有三块，又拿了蕾妮两块。她不在家，可我肯定，她发现我们有辆自行车会很高兴的。我回来的时候，凯茜走了，我知道她会这么做，可我不在乎。我有了两个新朋友和一辆自行车。

我叫露西。大的说。这是我妹妹拉切尔。

我是她妹妹。拉切尔说。你是谁？

我希望我的名字是卡桑德拉，或者阿乐克西丝，或者玛芮查——只要不是埃斯佩朗莎，什么名字都可以。可我告诉她们我的名字的时候，她们没有笑。

我从得克萨斯来，露西说着咧嘴一笑。塔是在这里出生的，而我在得克萨斯。

你是说她吧。我说。

不，我是从得克萨斯来。她没听明白我的意思。

这辆车我们三个这么分配吧，拉切尔已经想在前面了。今天是我的，明天是露西的，后天是你的。

可每个人都想今天骑，因为车是新的。于是我们决定从明天开始轮流。今天它属于我们大家。

我还没有告诉她们蕾妮的事。事情太复杂了。尤其是，为了谁第一个骑的问题，拉切尔差点把露西的眼睛挖出来。最后我们同意一块骑，为什么不呢？

露西腿长，她来踩踏板。我坐在后座上，拉切尔足够苗条，她坐到了前杠上，弄得车子一个劲摇晃，好像轮子是实心意粉做的。不过一会儿我们就习惯了。

我们越骑越快，骑过了我的家，那破落又悲哀、墙砖碎裂的红色小屋，骑过了街角宾尼先生的小卖铺，骑在了危险的大道上。自助洗衣店、旧货店、药店、一个个窗子、一辆辆汽车，越来越多的汽车，都经过了。我们围着街区绕了一圈，骑回芒果街。

巴士上的人向我们挥手。一个很胖很胖的女人边过街边说，你们的装载量很大呀。

拉切尔喊道，你的装载量也很大呀。她说话好冒失。

我们沿着芒果街前行。拉切尔、露西、我，还有我们的新自行车。歪歪扭扭的回程上，我们一直笑呀笑。

Our Good Day

If you give me five dollars I will be your friend forever. That's what the little one tells me.

Five dollars is cheap since I don't have any friends except Cathy who is only my friend till Tuesday.

Five dollars, five dollars.

She is trying to get somebody to chip in so they can buy a bicycle from this kid named Tito. They already have ten dollars and all they need is five more.

Only five dollars, she says.

Don't talk to them, says Cathy. Can't you see they smell like a broom.

But I like them. Their clothes are crooked and old. They are wearing shiny Sunday shoes without socks. It makes their bald ankles all red, but I like them. Especially the big one who laughs with all her teeth. I like her even though she lets the little one do all the talking.

Five dollars, the little one says, only five.

Cathy is tugging my arm and I know whatever I do next will make her mad forever.

Wait a minute, I say, and run inside to get the five dollars. I have three dollars saved and I take two of Nenny's. She's not home, but I'm sure she'll be glad when she finds out we own a bike. When I get back, Cathy is gone like I knew she would be, but I don't care. I have two new friends and a bike too.

My name is Lucy, the big one says. This here is Rachel my sister.

I'm her sister, says Rachel. Who are you?

And I wish my name was Cassandra or Alexis or Maritza——anything but Esperanza——but when I tell them my name they don't laugh.

We come from Texas, Lucy says and grins. Her was born here, but me I'm Texas.

You mean she, I say.

No, I'm from Texas, and doesn't get it.

This bike is three ways ours, says Rachel who is thinking ahead already. Mine today, Lucy's tomorrow and yours day after.

But everybody wants to ride it today because the bike is new, so we decide to take turns after tomorrow. Today it belongs to all of us.

I don't tell them about Nenny just yet. It's too complicated. Especially since Rachel almost put out Lucy's eye about who was going to get to ride it first. But finally we agree to ride it together. Why not?

Because Lucy has long legs she pedals. I sit on the back seat and Rachel is skinny enough to get up on the handlebars which makes the bike all wobbly as if the wheels are spaghetti, but after a bit you get used to it.

We ride fast and faster. Past my house, sad and red and crumbly in places, past Mr. Benny's grocery on the corner, and down the avenue which is dangerous. Laundromat, junk store, drugstore, windows and cars and more cars, and around the block back to Mango.

People on the bus wave. A very fat lady crossing the street says, You sure got quite a load there.

Rachel shouts, You got quite a load there too. She is very sassy.

Down, down Mango Street we go. Rachel, Lucy, me. Our new bicycle. Laughing the crooked ride back.