Prologue.
"I'm going to let go now, Sherlock."
"No!" Cried the small boy, who was clinging to the bicycle with all his strength. The older man chuckled at his son's wariness.
"Oh come on now, son. This is very out of character for you." Mr Holmes spoke kindly. He looked down at his son questionably. "What happened to my brave, little boy?"
Sherlock's shoulders dropped down in defeat. "But father, this is scary. Why do I have to ride without stabilizers? I can't do it!"
"Now now, what do we Holmes's say about that word?" Sherlock's father pressed, though still attempting to encourage his son.
The seven year old sighed, the curls on his forehead bouncing as he looked up to his elder. "There's no such thing as can't." He mumbled. Sherlock knew his father was right, he always was.
Mr Holmes smiled down at his beloved son. He couldn't help but notice how much Sherlock reminded him of himself at that age. "That's my boy." He expressed proudly. "Now, come on. I know you can do this Sherlock. I believe in you." He watched as Sherlock picked himself back up and clutched onto the bicycle's handlebars. "Let's try again. All you have to do is keep pedaling. I'll let you go when I know you're ready."
Sherlock took a deep breath and nodded his head. His eyes squinted at the pavement in front of him, concentrating on the set task. I can do this, he thought to himself. Sherlock felt his father hold onto the bike, just as Sherlock moved his feet to pedal. He breathed heavily as he tried to maintain his balance. I can do this, he thought again. Sherlock pedaled forward towards the front of the driveway, near the peculiar gravestones with incorrect dates. The wind hit Sherlock's face, and the mop of hair on his hair blew gently with the breeze. Sherlock breathed in the countryside air. Incredible, he thought.
The realisation that he was still moving hit him. I'm doing it! He grinned, I'm really doing it! Sherlock started giggling to himself, happy that he'd accomplished something that he'd originally been afraid of. Sherlock was so caught up in his thoughts, that he didn't realise that his father had let go of the bike, and was now watching him in awe.
"Sherlock! The brake, use the brake!" Mr Holmes called, as he noticed that his son was getting a little too close to the road for comfort. Sherlock nodded and started to slow down, cycling back to where his father stood. The small child came to a stop in front of the elder's feet. Sherlock jumped from the bicycle into his father's arms.
"I did it!" Sherlock cried in happiness. "I did it father! Did you see me?"
Mr Holmes chuckled at his son's excitement. "I did see, Sherlock. I knew you could do it!" The man wrapped his arms around the boy. "Well done, Sherlock." Mr Holmes whispered into his son's dark brown hair.
"I'm so proud of you."