Dad’s Old Bike
Maya looked at the big old bicycle. It was red and it was her father’s old bike. Her father smiled. “You can do it, Maya.”
Maya was 15. She wanted to ride a bike to school with her friends. But she was scared. She tried once before and fell.
“I am scared, Dad,” she said.
“I know,” her father said. “I was scared too. But you are brave. I will help you.”
Maya sat on the bike. Her feet touched the ground. Her father held the back of the seat. “Okay, start pedalling,” he said.
Maya started to pedal. The bike moved slowly. She felt her father’s hand on the seat. It was safe. She pedalled faster. She looked back. Her father was not there! He was standing ten meters away, watching. She was riding alone!
“Dad!” she yelled. She got scared and stopped the bike. She fell on the grass. It did not hurt.
Her father ran to her. “Are you okay? But Maya, you did it! You rode for ten seconds!”
Maya sat on the grass. She was not sad. She was happy. “I did it!” she said. She looked at her father. “Will you help me again tomorrow?”
Her father laughed. “Of course. And in one week, you will ride to school.”
Maya felt proud. She was scared but she tried. Her Dad helped her. Now, she had the courage to try again.