The Wheel

Carl’s breathing was heavy as he ran.

He loved running. Not only was it a great way to stay in shape, but also, while he was running, all the problems he was dealing with just faded away. Carl didn’t have time to think about them. His sole focus was on the task at hand. Everything else was forgotten in the joy of the moment.

The wind rushed in his ears; he felt the breeze on his face. The scenery around him was a blur. His troubles were behind him—the world and all of its vast possibilities were ahead. Carl felt like he could do anything—like he could keep running forever and ever. It was a great feeling. No troubles, no worries, no distractions. Nothing. Just Carl running on the—

“I really don’t know why you bother running, Carl. What’s the point?”

Just like that, his concentration was broken; the rhythm of feet running at an even pace was lost. The wonderful feeling of freedom that came from running vanished. There was one distraction—as much as Carl tried to ignore him at such times.

Tony.

Carl panted as he slowed to a stop. He looked over at his friend. Tony was nibbling quite contentedly on a piece of lettuce as he lounged on a bed of wood pulp in the corner of their cage. Oh, have I mentioned that Tony and Carl are hamsters? Well, they are.

Carl sighed to himself and hopped off the metal wheel he’d been running on. He scurried over and drank from the plastic water bottle fixed to the side of their cage.

Tony continued his tirade while Carl drank, waving the rest of his lettuce leaf as he spoke for emphasis.

“I watch you each and every day, you know. From dawn till dusk, you’re running—and for what? I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to ask why. It’s not like you’re even going anywhere. I mean, it looks so frustrating from where I’m sitting. There’s no way I’d ever get on that wheel!”

Carl thought about what Tony was saying. His plump, brown-furred friend had a point—as much as he hated to admit it. He wasn’t going anywhere. But did that really matter? He turned back to his friend.

“Maybe you’re right, Tony,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere right now. But someday, I might.”

There was a wistful hope in his voice as he looked out past the bars of their cage.

Tony laughed at his answer and then burped. “Where would you go, Carl? We’re stuck in this cage, you and I—just like we’ve always been.” He rattled a cage bar with his forepaw, reminding Carl of that disappointing fact.

The two of them had been together in this cage for as long as they could remember. And friends for nearly as long. Neither could remember a time when they weren’t in their cage, confined in the back room of Tim’s Pet Shop. I don’t know why they were in the back room. You’d have to ask Tim to answer that one.

While they didn’t see eye-to-eye on a great many things—such as the point of exercise and the importance of holding onto the hope of one day getting out of the cage they were kept in—they were able to look past such differences. Carl and Tony remained the best of friends.

Carl refused to let go of his hold on hope. “Yes—right now, we’re in this cage, Tony, but that doesn’t mean that’s how it’s always going to be. Someday, we might not be! We might be free. I want to be ready for that day.”

He continued determinedly, “That’s why I run, Tony. I’m getting ready for the day things change for us. Maybe Tim keeps the cage door open for too long when he’s feeding us, or maybe someone finally buys us for their child—who knows? Whatever it is, I’m waiting for my chance! I’m getting ready for the day I can run and actually go someplace instead of staying right where I am.”

Carl was on a roll now.

“I bet it’s a big, beautiful world out there past these cage bars. Imagine it! Don’t you want that, too, Tony? Don’t you want to see what’s outside this cage?”

Carl was silent as he waited for his friend’s answer. He knew that this was a turning point in their friendship. Maybe that was why they had avoided such a deep conversation until now. Perhaps neither wanted to find out what the other truly thought. Whatever Tony said next would have major implications for them going forward. It would change everything.

Tony said nothing at all. He simply ate his lettuce leaf thoughtfully.

Still chewing, he said, “Not particularly. I like it here. We get food and water each and every day; we have a warm and safe place to sleep at night. How many other hamsters can say the same? Out past these cage bars…”

His voice trailed off, and he shook his head. “There’s no way of knowing what’s out there, Carl,” he said quietly.

Carl looked at his friend. He was saddened and disappointed by his answer. Why didn’t Tony want freedom and adventure like him?

“There’s no way of knowing what’s out there, that’s true,” Carl admitted. “But if I don’t try—if I don’t see for myself—well, then I’ll certainly never know.”

Tony digested that sage advice along with the rest of his lettuce. It did nothing to help the turmoil churning inside of him. If only Carl could have known that he did want freedom and adventure—just like Carl—but he was scared. And so, Tony hid behind his excuses.

“There’s no stopping you, then?” Tony finally asked. “If we have a chance to be free from this cage, you’re taking it?”

“Absolutely,” Carl said without hesitation. “It’s my dream, Tony.”

The other hamster nodded to himself. At that moment, he came to a profound conclusion. Yes, he was scared. Scared to death of leaving the safety of his cage behind him. But when he looked and saw how determined Carl was to see the outside world, Tony realized what would happen if he kept making excuses. One day—sooner or later—he would lose his best friend. And that scared him more than the outside world did.

Tony lumbered to his feet. He plodded over to the metal wheel and clambered on. The large hamster began walking forward, turning the wheel slowly.

Carl watched, amazed. “Tony! What are you doing?”

“Well,” Tony panted, “if one day, you manage to get out of this cage and escape from the back room of Tim’s Pet Shop, I guess I’ll come too. We’re best friends, Carl. I don’t think I want to be in here all alone without you. Yes, the food and water every day are good—but I don’t think they’d taste nearly as good without you sharing them. The cage is safe and warm—but I still wouldn’t be able to sleep at night because I’d be thinking of you being out in the cold and dark. If you’re bound and determined to see the outside world, you better believe I’m going to be right there with you.”

Carl didn’t know what to say to his friend. There were times when nothing needed to be said between best friends. This was one of those times. Carl simply hopped back onto the metal wheel next to Tony. They walked side-by-side in silence and waited for the day that they’d be able to run somewhere in the outside world instead.

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