Leo's Big Ride

Leo stares at his brand-new, shiny red bicycle sitting in the driveway. It looks beautiful, but to Leo, the tall seat feels like a giant mountain he is not quite ready to climb.

He remembers the time he scraped his knee on the sidewalk last summer. He gently touches his knee and feels a little flutter of worry in his tummy as he looks at the spinning wheels.

At the park, his friends are zooming around like colorful streaks of lightning. They wave their hands at Leo, calling for him to come and join the fast-paced fun on the grass.

Leo slowly puts his small hands on the soft rubber grips of the handlebars. The bike feels heavy and a bit wobbly, making his heart beat a little faster with every step he takes.

His dad crouches down beside him with a warm, encouraging smile. He places a steady, strong hand on the back of the seat to keep Leo balanced and safe.

Leo takes a deep breath and pushes the pedal down for the very first time. The wheels turn with a soft click-clack sound as he moves slowly along the smooth park path.

As the bike picks up speed, Leo feels the cool morning wind brushing against his cheeks. He is moving forward, and the ground beneath him doesn't feel so scary anymore.

Suddenly, there is a small wooden bump in the road ahead. Leo wobbles for a second and gasps, but he grips the handles tight and stays upright through the little jolt.

He looks back and realizes his dad has let go of the seat many yards ago. Leo is riding all by himself, pedaling faster and faster through the golden sunshine.

Leo smiles wide as he circles around his cheering friends in the tall grass. He isn't afraid of falling anymore because he finally knows how wonderful it feels to fly.