Noodles on a Bicycle

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

This is Believe, one network, every topic, everywhere.

SPEAKER_2 (0:07)

Okay, our friend, so one good food story deserves another. What do you say?

Lisa Bueno (0:14)

Today, we are going to read more about tasty things to eat and how, you know, the girl in yesterday's story took her food on, in her lunchbox to school. Food that you take on the go is super fun.

And so we're going to stay on that theme.

SPEAKER_4 (0:34)

Today, we'll be reading a story called Noodles on a Bicycle.

Lisa Bueno (0:38)

And this story was written by Kiel McClure and Grayseed Sang. And it's read today by Mommy and...

Philip (0:49)

Philip, the lasagna eater.

Lisa Bueno (0:51)

Philip, the lasagna eater. Are you a lasagna fan?

Philip (0:57)

All I know is lasagna is yummy.

Lisa Bueno (0:59)

All you know is lasagna is yummy?

SPEAKER_4 (1:03)

It also has noodles, so I guess I'm contributing to the...

SPEAKER_2 (1:07)

The story for today?

SPEAKER_6 (1:09)

Yeah, you're eating lasagna, so that counts.

Lisa Bueno (1:12)

All right, so when we open today's book, we can see a delivery man for a restaurant maneuvering his bike through the street in Tokyo. And this is in March of 1937 And the amount of things that he has balanced on his shoulders is just incredible. He's got a lot of food there. So let's read about what is going on here with this. Shall we? OK. When the delivery man set off in the morning, we sit outside and watch and wait for the flicker of pedal and wheel.

They leave each day from the old soba noodle shop near our house, where the soba chef rises at dawn, cutting noodles from buckwheat flour, thin duari noodles, dark inaka noodles. Making his famous house broth, the soba chef has been around for years, making only one thing.

When the orders are ready, the delivery men arrive. They stack the ceramic soup bowls and wooden soba bowls, one tray on top of another on top of another, and then they take off. And we watch them balancing towers on their shoulders, and arm holding things steady as their bicycle tires bump and bounce and settle and swoosh. So, imagine riding your bicycle, but with only one hand, because the other hand, you have got holding a giant stack of food.

SPEAKER_2 (3:10)

You've got...

Philip (3:12)

Every five minutes, I stop.

Lisa Bueno (3:13)

You've cut like 10 people's foods, lunches on your shoulders.

SPEAKER_2 (3:18)

Can you imagine?

Lisa Bueno (3:20)

They didn't have backpacks.

SPEAKER_4 (3:22)

And even then, backpacks wouldn't work.

Lisa Bueno (3:27)

A few of us run alongside until we're out of breath, waving goodbye as they zip onto the main road and sail beyond the park, legs circling in faded blue pants, bicycles shining in the sun, wind lifting their hair, beep, beep, honk.

SPEAKER_4 (3:47)

Beep, beep, honk, honk.

Lisa Bueno (3:56)

We can see the busy street here, and this is in Tokyo.

SPEAKER_6 (4:00)

It's a city in Japan.

Lisa Bueno (4:01)

And we can see the very busy street with all these different vehicles going here and there, and bicycles and cars and buses and taxis. And this guy on his bicycle with his gigantic stack of food.

Hungry customers wait. The first delivery goes to students at the university.

SPEAKER_2 (4:21)

Another goes to the factory. And then there's one for the big office tower.

Lisa Bueno (4:27)

There's a delivery man from the old Sobaia, and a delivery man from the new Sobaia, who are competing to see who can make the tallest and fanciest stack. And when I look at what they're holding, I think all those bowls of soup and all those containers of noodles and these glass, I would just be so nervous. I would be so nervous carrying all that glass and that hot soup on my shoulder, wouldn't you? I mean, what if it spilled all down you? You would have Ouchies for days!

They are artists, architects, tough talkers, speedy spinners, but mostly they're acrobats, whizzing past other bicycles, soaring around curves, cresting hills, avoiding potholes, and the black smoke of motorcycles.

SPEAKER_8 (5:18)

Do they dream of noodles all night long?

Lisa Bueno (5:24)

Oh yeah, you didn't think about that, right? They don't want to get any of the smells of the city on their food. That would ruin the whole experience, huh? When the delivery men cycle through the neighborhood, we want to see them.

SPEAKER_7 (5:38)

We want to be them.

Lisa Bueno (5:40)

We pluck one of our bikes from the shed and squeaky seats and rusty chain.

SPEAKER_7 (5:45)

We carefully practice stacking trays with bowls filled with water. Be careful!