The Flying Bicycle
Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a poor boy named Allen. His father sold hay to support his family and to keep Allen in school.
Allen had to walk a kilometer to school every day. All the other children had bicycles and would laugh at poor Allen because he didn't have one.
The Teasing of Classmates
— Hey, Allen, don't your feet hurt from all that walking? — He's probably training for a marathon. — Let's call him Mr. Two Legs No Bike. — Yeah, he's Mr. Two Legs No Bike, Two Legs No Bike, No Bike.
Allen was very upset that they were laughing at him. So he went to his parents and told them:
— All my friends ride their bikes to school. I want a bike too!
The Parents' Sacrifice
— Allen, we don't have money for a bicycle, son. Wait a few months, okay?
— Father, I'm sorry I asked you that. I don't want a bike, I like walking to school.
That evening, while Allen was sleeping, his parents made a decision.
— Allen is one of the few boys in the village who doesn't have a bike. The poor child, how the others laugh at him!
— And do you know how understanding our son is? When I told him we couldn't afford a bike, he immediately agreed to keep walking. He must get a bike, somehow!
— Take this and sell it! — Maria, what do I need a necklace for? A bicycle will be useful for both you and Allen.
The Flying Bicycle
So Allen's father sold the necklace and bought Allen an old bicycle. Allen was overjoyed. Now he rode his bike to school every day. One day, on his way back, the chain of the old bicycle broke.
Allen got off his bike, and while trying to fix it, he heard a sound from the lake.
— Help! Help!
Allen saw that someone was drowning in the lake. He ran to the lake and jumped in to save the drowning person.
— Thank you so much, boy! You saved my life! — I just did what was right. There's no need to thank me. — Can I help you with something? Please, let me help you. — My bike just broke. — Aha! Good! Do you want a new bike that can fly? I can make you a flying bicycle! I will make you a flying bicycle!
The wizard touched the bicycle, and suddenly, it grew wings and became a new, shiny bicycle. The wizard warned Allen:
— As long as you remain kind and helpful, the bicycle will stay this way. But if you become selfish, the wings will disappear, and the bicycle will turn back into the old one.
The Wizard's Warning and Allen's Arrogance
Allen happily went home with his bicycle and told his parents everything. Now, when the other children rode their bikes to school, Allen flew on his bicycle.
— Look! It's Allen! — I wish I had a flying bicycle too! — How lucky Allen is!
Wherever he went, people looked at Allen with wonder and admiration. Soon, Allen began to feel very special and became rude and arrogant just because he had a flying bicycle.
— Father! — You don't have school today, so take the bike to the field, because I'm going to mow. — No, Father! Don't take my beautiful bike into the muddy field! — Allen! This is my bike! The wizard gave it to me, and I won't give it to anyone!
— Hey, Ben! What's the problem? Don't you have a bike? See? I have a flying one! A wizard was so impressed with me that he gave it to me as a thank you!
The Lesson Learned
As soon as Allen said those mean words, the bicycle lost its wings, became old again, and fell to the ground. All the other children started to laugh. Ben came to help him.
— Are you okay? — The wizard said that...
Allen realized that he had become mean, rude, and selfish. That's why his bicycle turned old again. He deserved it. He went home, fixed the bicycle, and told his father:
— Father, I'm sorry! I was mean to you. You bought me the bike, and I forbade you to use it. How could I do that? I've fixed it now. Take it to the field, and I will walk to school. I will never complain again, I promise!
So, from that day on, Allen started walking to school again. He and Ben became good friends. Then, after many months, Allen found another bicycle, just like the one the wizard had given him, at his door. Allen gave it to his father, and he rode the old one to school. But this time, he took Ben with him too.
We should not be rude just because we have better things than others. We must always be grateful and respect everyone.
