When your words come back to bite you

Long ago I harangued a sixth former for not working hard enough. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” asked I. “A pilot sir” came the reply. Sarcastically, and unfairly, I replied that at this point in his life I doubted he could pilot a wheelbarrow. Fast forward about 12 years and a visitor to the school asked to speak to me. When we met he took something out of his pocket and showed it to me. It was a pilot’s licence! I was delighted. I told him that I remembered the occasion and apologised for my words. He said “Don’t apologise, I’ve been working towards this day for a long time”. We parted the best of friends.