The Try that Succeeds: an Examination

It’s a windy day, and my sons want to fly a kite.

They all have the same one: a Star Wars Millennium Falcon that will look striking against the bold blue of the sky, if we can get it up in the air.

They take a running start and fling their kites into the air. The kites crash to the cement, a cascade of plastic clicks against immovable asphalt.

“Careful,” I say. “We don’t want to break them.”

They agree. But they are not exactly careful the second time around.

They take another running start,...