Today was a big day for Nina. Her dad knelt down by her bike. Off came the training wheels — one, then the other. Now it had just two wheels!
Nina snapped on her helmet. She felt excited and a little bit scared. “You can do this,” said Dad with a smile.
Nina pushed off and started to pedal. The bike rolled down the sidewalk. She was really riding!
But then the bike wobbled this way and that way. TIP — over she went, right into the soft grass. It did not really hurt. But Nina frowned.
So Nina tried again. And again. Wobble, tip, fall. Wobble, tip, fall.
Green grass stains covered both her knees. “I can't do it!” Nina said. She wanted to give up.
Her dad knelt down beside her. “Everybody falls when they are learning,” he said gently.
“Keep your eyes up, and keep pedaling. I've got you.” He ran along behind her, holding on to her seat.
Nina pedaled and pedaled. She kept her eyes up, just like Dad said.
And then — without telling her — Dad let go. All at once, Nina was riding! Just her, balancing all by herself, with the wind in her hair.
Nina rode all the way down the street. Her dad cheered and cheered behind her. “I'm doing it! I'm really doing it!” she laughed.
Her cheeks were warm and her heart felt big. All those falls, she learned, were just a part of learning to fly.