“Bicycles, Muscles, Cigarettes” sometimes written as “Bicycles, Muscles, Cigarets” is a short story by Raymond Carver that appeared in his 1976 collection Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? It’s about a father who gets called to a neighborhood meeting involving his son over a missing bike. Here’s a summary of “Bicycles, Muscles, Cigarettes”.
“Bicycles, Muscles, Cigarettes” Summary
It’s Evan Hamilton’s second day without a cigarette and everything reminds him of them. He can smell them on his fingers. His wife, Ann, tells him the second day’s the hardest.
Evan goes to the door to call Roger for supper. There’s an older boy outside on a bicycle. Roger is at his house with two other boys, Kip and Gary Berman. His mother is talking to them and wants one of their parents to come over. It’s something about his brother Gilbert’s bike.
He tells Ann about it. He’d rather she went, but he’s going to go. On the walk over, the older boy tells him more. The three boys were using his brother’s bike while the family was on vacation. They wrecked it and now it’s lost. Evan knows Kip but not Gary Berman, who’s new to the neighborhood. His dad will be there when he gets home.
Evan follows this older boy through the front door and into the kitchen where his son sits at the table with Kip and Gary. He meets Mrs. Miller, Gilbert’s mother, who’s seated at the head of the table. Next to her is a boy of nine or ten, Gilbert.
One of the older boys at the sink has a cigarette, which draws Evan’s attention.
Kip’s parents were out. Gary’s dad should be along in a few minutes. Mrs. Miller fills Evan in—Kip borrowed Gilbert’s bike so Roger could use it to help with his paper route. Afterward, joined by Gary, they took turns “rolling” the bike—pushing it and letting it fall over. Kip and Roger then threw it against a goalpost. Evan reprimands Roger for the damage he’s admitted to.
Roger interrupts to say Gary was choking him. Mrs. Miller confirms they were in the garage and her oldest son, Curt, broke it up.
The problem is, the bike is missing now. Kip and Roger claim they returned it the next morning, leaving it behind the house. Mrs. Miller is doubtful, considering the kid’s behavior.
Gary’s father arrives and gets Gary to tell him what happened. He explains but Roger disagrees with his version. Gary wants to talk to his dad in private, so they go into the living room, which irks Evan a bit.
Evan asks Roger and Kip again if they know where the bike is. They don’t. Kip says he left it behind the garage. Mrs. Miller points out they said they left it behind the house. She doesn’t know who to believe.
Gary and his father come back. Gary blames Roger and he blames Gary. Mr. Berman speaks harshly to Roger, and Evan speaks up. He says this is a far as they can get right now. He’ll talk more to Roger about it. He’s willing to make Roger pay a third if it comes to that.
Mr. Berman continues to be aggressive and Evan warns him again. Mr. Berman brushes by Evan at the door. Impetuously, Evan lunges at Berman and they fight on the lawn. Evan gets the better of the exchange but Mrs. Miller’s urging quickly breaks it up.
Evan, Roger and Kip walk away. Roger and Kip are upset, and Kip runs off for home.
“Bicycles, Muscles, Cigarettes” Summary, Cont’d
Evan apologizes to Roger for having to witness that scene. Roger was worried Mr. Berman could have had a weapon. He wants to feel his dad’s muscle, but Evan sends him inside.
Evan stays outside on the porch. He remembers seeing his father in a fight at a café. Ann calls him in and wants to hear what happened. Evan goes up to Roger’s room first. He tells him not to damage any more property and to stay away from that part of the neighborhood.
Roger asks if his grandfather was strong like Evan. He wants to know if his dad’s relationship with his dad was like theirs. He used to smoke a pipe and cigarettes.
Evan has Roger smell his hand, but the cigarette smell is gone. As he leaves, Roger says he wishes he knew his dad when he was a kid his own age. He feels like he misses him already.
Roger wants the door left open. Evan closes it halfway.
I hope this summary of “Bicycles, Muscles, Cigarettes” was helpful.