The boy found everything very weird, but since he really liked his aunt and her fun ideas, he decided to do exactly as she suggested.

So he first opened the first note. It was written this: EVOLUTION = STUDY + E + W + P. Right below it, in small letters, he read: Watch the good examples.

* “What was that? A mathematical formula?” asked Rodrigo.

* “I think your aunt is trying to teach you how to ride a skate board” said his mother.

* “How is that so?” asked Rodrigo.

* His mother continued: “Studying is a way to achieve evolution, so his aunt could be referring to learn how to ride the skate board.

So Rodrigo was really puzzled. He understood the part concerning EVOLUTION, but what did STUDY have to do with skate board? He wasn’t aware of sites or books that would teach you how to ride a skate board… He thought for a while and then decided to go to the skating field near his home, to watch for the good examples, like the note said.

After arriving, he tried to ride his skate board again but suddenly fell to the ground. Then he sat above the skate board and started to watch other boys. He watched what they did with their arms and legs in order to remain stable over the skates. And that was how he spent his afternoon: watching some experienced skaters, studying their body movements, and trying to do the same. That day Rodrigo arrived home late, very exhausted but also very glad with his progress.

In the next day, Rodrigo opened the second note. It was written this: EVOLUTION = STUDY + EFFORT + W + P. He thought that he had done this the day before, and maybe he just needed to put on some more effort to be able to ride the skate board on his own. So he went to watch the experienced skaters again, but this time he tried to concentrate more on his efforts. By the end of the day, Rodrigo was already able to ride his skate board, although not so smoothly and easily as the other boys.

In the following day, Rodrigo opened the third note, and read the following: EVOLUTION = STUDY + EFFORT + WORK + PERSEVERANCE. So after going to the skating field again and returning home at the end of the afternoon, Rodrigo realized that everything written on those notes were true. And for him to participate in professional skating championships, and therefore make his wishes come true, he just needed to work hard for a long time, because those skilled movements were not so hard as they seemed at first.

So that night, Rodrigo received another letter from his aunt. She was asking if he liked his birthday gift and if he had read the notes exactly how she suggested. She also explained that learning how to ride a skate board is like learning anything else in life. So in order for him to learn how to have more patience, Rodrigo could also use the formula: EVOLUTION = STUDY + EFFORT + WORK + PERSEVERANCE. That is, he should first study his attitudes, watch his behaviors with others, and try to understand why and when he became impatient. Then he should put on some effort to have more patience and work hard during many days in order to be more calm and to accept things at their own time. His aunt ended her letter by stating she would visit him very soon to see his progress.

In the end, that birthday was very special for Rodrigo, because he learned how to use the formula: EVOLUTION = STUDY + EFFORT + WORK + PERSEVERANCE to become a good skater and, most of all, to be a better person throughout his life.