Pecan Park wasn’t very big, and most of it was taken up by a dog run, but Héctor was still excited to race around it. He biked up to the south entrance and was greeted by dogs barking at one another. He pulled out his phone to open up the stopwatch when he thought he heard someone call out his name.

Which was impossible. Still, he looked around the park, but couldn’t see anyone who might know him. There were three kids on bikes riding down the path toward him, but they were too far away.

Believing he’d imagined it, he looked back down at his phone.

“Is that Heck-tor?”

No.

NO.

Héctor glanced up, quietly seething at his luck.

And looked straight into the face of Mike astride a black mountain bike.

Oh, the Minions were there too, both of them on bikes. Héctor was aware of them in his peripheral vision, but the look of utter, evil joy on Mike’s face had all his attention.

Great. Does he live in this neighborhood, too? he wondered, distraught. Why does he have to be in every part of my life?

“Is that your bike, HECK-tor?” said Mike.

He wanted to say: No, I just stand over random bikes in the street. I am the Bike God! This is my child.

He did not opt for the weirdest possible answer. Instead:

“Yeah, it is.”

Mike cackled, and the others joined him. “Who rides a purple bicycle?” he said. “A girl?”

“I do.”

Mike’s laughter stopped abruptly, and he glared at Héctor. “You should have a bike like this,” he said, gesturing to the one he sat on.

Héctor wanted to say: That’s a mountain bike. It’s not meant for riding on the street. Also, you’re riding the wrong size and your seat is too low.

Instead, what came out of his mouth was:

“No, thank you.”

It was certainly one of Héctor’s worst comebacks, and he knew it. He wasn’t even sure it counted as a comeback. Why was he talking to Mike like he was Ms. Heath?

“Where are all your little friends?” Mike said, rolling his bike closer. “They know what a loser you are?”

“I don’t know,” said Héctor, and he could feel himself shrinking, folding in on himself. “They’re . . . somewhere. Not here.”

Mike laughed while looking to his Minions, but Frank and Carlos weren’t joining in. Frank seemed bored, and Carlos had a strange expression on his face, one that made Héctor feel even more uncomfortable.

“Well?” said Mike to Carlos. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

Carlos just shook his head.

“Come on,” said Mike. “This is too gay for me.”

As he and the Minions pedaled off, Héctor said to himself, “Well, obviously.”

That was only slightly better than before, but still . . . not great.