Look! The training wheels are off, lying in the grass. The little blue bike has just two wheels now. Naishu stares at it, heart going pit-a-pat — excited and a tiny bit scared.
Helmet on — click! Knee pads snapped tight. Naishu pats their chest twice and stands up tall: "I'm ready!" The puppy sits up straight too, just like a little coach.
First try — wibble, wobble! The handlebars wiggle this way and that way. "Whoa whoa whoa!" The puppy trots alongside on the grass, keeping up with every wobble.
Bump! Down onto the soft grass goes Naishu. The knee pads did their job — nothing hurts outside. But inside, it stings a little, and the lip pushes out.
"I give up..." whispers Naishu, hugging both knees. But the puppy rolls the little red ball over, then licks Naishu's hand — as if to say: one more try? A tiny smile peeks out.
Naishu takes a big, deep breath and lifts the little blue bike up tall. "Eyes up front, pedal-pedal-pedal. I can do it!" The puppy barks twice: you can, you can!
Pedal, pedal, pedal! One wobble... then steady! The little blue bike rolls on and on, farther than ever before. The puppy races alongside, ears flying in the wind.
Wind in the hair, the silver bell going ring-ring! "I'm riding! I'm really riding!" shouts Naishu. The ducks on the pond look up, and the puppy leaps for joy.
Around the big tree, over the little bridge — Naishu rides a whole big loop without stopping once! The puppy chases behind, its tail spinning like a happy pinwheel.
The sun sets, all golden and warm. Naishu pats the bike seat gently: "See you tomorrow, little blue bike." And inside Naishu's chest glows a great big "I can do it."