cycling

There used to be a father who would bring his son cycling every evening. The son started with a little tricycle, and in a matter of months got a bicycle with a pair of training wheels. First, he started with two training wheels then the father removed the training wheel on the left, and then the one on the right when the boy was ready to progress.

Each time, from the tricycle to the two-wheeled bicycle, the father would be running alongside the boy, encouraging him, teaching him, correcting him and to catch him if he falls.

This went on and on as the boy got more comfortable on the bicycle, gaining both the skills and confidence needed for him to cycle independently. This boy got better and better, and when he didn't need his father by his side to teach him and catch him anymore, he started to disregard his father running by his side. He cycled faster, went further, reveling in what he could now do on his own. As for the man, he was happy to see his son being able to now cycle on his own. Though no one knew whether there was a tinge of sadness in him when his son started to cycle with seeming disregard for the old man running by his side, it was obvious that he took great joy in seeing what his son could do.

And one day, the old man wasn't running by the side of the now speeding bicycle anymore. It wasn't because he could not catch up with the bicycle anymore, but because he now knew his son didn't need him running by his side anymore. If he did not believe his son would be able to cope, believe me, he'd run to the death of him to be there to catch him when he falls.

Inevitably, the son will fall. And what happens?