“Hello, everyone!” he said.
Mr. Mackey usually arrives with a cart of wonderful art supplies. Today he came with an armload of wonderful kites instead.
“Ms. Colman told me you were going to be learning about kites, so I brought some to show you,” he said.
He had brought four different kinds. I had seen kites like them flying at Stoneybrook Playground. But I did not know they had important names. One was a flat kite. It is a kite that can be any shape, such as a square or a diamond. One was a box kite. It was shaped like a rectangle. One was a delta kite. It was shaped almost like a triangle. And one was the parafoil Ms. Colman had talked about. It was soft without too much shape of its own. It gets its shape from the wind.
“Soon each of you will have a chance to make a kite of your own,” said Mr. Mackey. “And that is not all. We will hold a kiteflying contest when your kites are finished. You will get to stay after school on a Friday and fly your kites on the playground. Then we will have a school sleepover so we can watch the kites fly all night. Whoever builds the kite that stays up the longest wins the contest.”
Everyone began talking and calling things out. Mr. Mackey held up his hand for quiet. He was not finished with his announcement yet.
“Before you begin making your kites, we will take a trip to Mrs. Moody’s Kite Store. Mrs. Moody will tell us about the different kites she sells.”
Mr. Mackey promised we would go on Wednesday. That was three school days away. I could hardly wait.
Mrs. Moody
Saturday. Sunday. Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday! It was the day of our trip to Mrs. Moody’s Kite Store.
Ms. Colman told us to team up with the same partners we had chosen for the trip to the airport.
“It’s a short trip, and we do not want to waste any time,” she explained.
That meant Leslie and Natalie were partners again. Leslie thought this was gigundoly unfair.
At nine-thirty, we piled onto the bus. Addie’s mother was there. Ricky’s father came. And of course Ms. Colman and Mr. Mackey were there.
Hannie and I got to sit next to Addie and Nancy this time. We pretended we were four Lovely Ladies on our way to a tea party. But we could not play for very long. The ride to the store took only ten minutes.
Mrs. Moody was waiting for us at the door. She wore earrings shaped like kites. And she had a big smile. I liked her right away.
“Welcome, everyone. Please look around the store. Feel free to ask any questions you think of,” she said.
I already had a question. I raised my hand. “Is it hard to make a kite?” I asked.
“Some kites are hard to make. But many others are easy. And they fly just as well,” Mrs. Moody said.
I looked around. I was amazed. I saw so many kites. I saw cloth kites, paper kites, box kites. I saw kites shaped like monsters and animals. My two favorites were a dragon and a tropical fish.
I thought of another question. But Hank was talking to Mrs. Moody. So I had to wait. Hank wanted to know if Mrs. Moody made kites herself.
“Yes, I do. I keep them at home. Sometimes I fly them. But mostly I just hang them up because they’re pretty,” she replied. “Karen, did you have another question?”
“Could you tell me if the dragon and the fish kites are very hard to make?” I asked.
“That dragon kite is a little complicated. But you could make a simple dragon kite. And the fish kite wouldn’t be too hard.”
“Oh, good,” I said. “Those are my favorite ones.”
“I have an announcement to make now, Karen,” said Mrs. Moody. “I think you are going to like it.”
“Hey, everyone. Mrs. Moody is going to make a Surprising Announcement!” I said.
That got everyone’s attention.
“Thank you, Karen,” said Mrs. Moody. She told us that she had heard about our kite-flying contest. “I would like to offer a prize to the winner,” she said. “It is a twenty-five-dollar gift certificate to spend here in the store.”
“Way cool!” said Hannie. “If I win, I am going to buy the butterfly kite.”
“I will buy the caterpillar kite,” said Nancy.
“I like the box kite,” said Addie.
I found the price tags on the dragon and fish kites. They each cost thirty-one dollars and ninety-five cents. I decided I would make the fish kite at school. Then I could use the gift certificate to buy the dragon kite. I would just have to add a little bit of my own money.
But first I had to win the contest.
Natalie’s Bad News
It was a Sunday afternoon. Andrew and I were at the big house. We were waiting for Mommy to pick us up and take us back to the little house.
“Kai-kai,” said Emily Michelle. She held up a piece of paper with colored squiggles on it. The squiggles were supposed to be kites. (Kai-kai was her word for kite.)
I had told everyone in my families that we were making kites at school. And I told them about our kite-flying contest and Mrs. Moody’s prize.
“If I win, I am going to get a dragon kite!” I said.
Honk! Honk! Mommy had arrived.
“ ’Bye, everyone!” we called. We raced to Mommy’s car.
“Did you have a good weekend?” asked Mommy.
“Uh-huh,” said Andrew. “We watched The Little Mermaid last night.”
“Nannie helped us make popcorn. But guess who ate most of it,” I said. “Shannon!” David Michael’s puppy was a pig.
Andrew and I started singing songs from the movie. We were still singing when we walked into the little house.
Seth was on the phone. He put his finger to his lips. He was trying to tell us to please be quiet.
“Karen and her mother just walked in,” he said into the phone. “I’ll let them know what’s going on.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Well, Karen, I’m afraid it is something a little sad. Natalie Springer’s mother is on the phone. She is calling because Natalie’s grandfather died suddenly. He was Mr. Springer’s father,” said Seth. “The Springers need to go to St. Louis to help Natalie’s grandmother. Ordinarily, they would leave Natalie with her relatives. But the relatives will be going to St. Louis. So, since you and Natalie are in the same class, the Springers wondered if Natalie could stay here with us until they get back.”
I was sorry to hear about Natalie’s grandfather. It really was sad news.
“Of course Natalie can stay with us,” said Mommy.
“Right,” I agreed. Our families were not close friends. I wasn’t even very good friends with Natalie. But this was very important. Natalie needed us.
Mommy got on the phone.
“Hello, Mrs. Springer,” she said. “Natalie is welcome to stay with us as long as necessary. You can bring her over any time.”
Mommy talked to Mrs. Springer a little while longer. I could hear her making plans. Then she hung up the phone.
“The Springers will drop Natalie off on their way to the airport. They should be here around seven,” said Mommy.
I drew in a deep breath. Our house is little, I thought. But it will just have to make room for one more person.
Being Nice
I ran to my room to tell Goosie the news.
“We are going to have company, Goosie,” I said. “You know Natalie Springer. She is in my class at school. She is the one who has droopy socks and — ”
I heard a knock on my door. It was Mommy.
“May I talk with you for a minute, Karen?” she said.
“Okay,” I replied.
Mommy sat on my bed.
“You know, Karen, Natalie will probably be upset. I do not know whether she was close to her grandfather. But even if she wasn’t, this will be a difficult time for her,” Mommy explained. “After all, her parents will be upset. And they will be leaving her and going far away. So I want you to be very nice to your guest.”
I set Goosie down next to me and sat up on my bed. Taking care of Natalie while her parents were gone was going to be
a very important job. A grown-up job.
“Don’t worry, Mommy,” I said. “I promise to be extra nice and helpful. I will let Natalie play with me all the time. She can have any of my toys. And I will never, ever fight with her.”
“I know you’ll try your best,” said Mommy.
After our talk, I helped Mommy get sheets and towels ready for Natalie. I even put Hyacynthia, my special baby doll, on her bed for company.
After that, we ate dinner. Just as we were finishing, the bell rang. Seth answered the door. The Springers stood together in a row. Natalie was in the middle.
I was amazed to see how much the Springers looked alike. They were all sloppy and droopy. All their socks were falling down. All their glasses were sliding down their noses. Natalie was just like her parents.
“Hi, Natalie. Come in,” I said. “We are going to have fun together while you are here. I promise.”
We visited in the living room until Natalie’s parents had to leave. Then I took Natalie up to my room.
Mommy was right. Natalie really was upset. She was even crying a little bit.
“Hyacynthia is very good company. She can be your doll while you’re here,” I told her.
“Thanks, Karen,” said Natalie.
“I am really sorry about your grandfather. Were you very good friends?” I asked.
“Not really. I didn’t see him too much because he lived so far away,” said Natalie. “But now my parents are going to be far away, too. And I don’t know when they will come back.”
Natalie started crying again. I think she missed her parents already.
“Do you want to play a game? Or watch TV? Or I could read you a story, Natalie. I have some very funny books. They will cheer you up,” I said.
I decided to do whatever Natalie wanted. She was feeling sad. I told myself to be very nice to her all night long.
The Flying Fish
On Monday morning, I led Natalie into our classroom. I had decided I had better take care of her at home and at school.
“Hi, everybody,” I said.
Hannie and Nancy knew about Natalie’s grandfather. I had called them the night before to tell them the news. I guess they had told the other kids already. Everyone was being extra nice to Natalie.
When Natalie took off her coat, Hank hung it up for her.
When Natalie went to her desk, Ricky jumped up and pulled out her chair.
Addie shared a package of funny stickers with her.
Even Pamela, Jannie, and Leslie were nice to her.
“Do you want some gum, Natalie?” asked Pamela.
“It’s assorted flavors,” said Jannie. “You can pick first.”
“Thanks,” said Natalie. She chose a stick of wild cherry.
“I’m going to sharpen my pencils. I can take yours, too,” said Leslie.
By the time Ms. Colman came in, everyone had done something to make Natalie feel better. Natalie looked a little confused by the attention. But I think she liked it, too.
“If you need anything, just let me know,” I whispered while Ms. Colman was taking attendance.
In the afternoon Mr. Mackey helped us with our kites. They had to be ready by Friday. That was the day of our kite-flying contest.
“Would you please pass the glitter?” asked Addie. She was making a great 3-D star kite, with stars and stripes and glitter on it.
Ricky was making a black bat kite with great big wings. It was spooky.
Hannie was making a kite that looked like a dog. Nancy was making one that looked like a cat.
I was making my flying fish kite. It was very beautiful. It was even more beautiful than the tropical fish kite in Mrs. Moody’s store. Here are the colors I put on my kite: red, purple, pink, light blue, yellow, light green.
I looked over at Natalie’s kite. It was a diamond shape — sort of. And it was gray. Not a bright and shiny gray. It was gray like a dirty nickel. And the tail was a bunch of torn-up cleaning rags knotted together.
I wondered if Natalie’s kite would even fly. Maybe it would be too embarrassed to be seen in the sky.
I wanted to say something nice. I had to think hard.
“Your kite is special, Natalie,” I said. “It is not like any of the kites in Mrs. Moody’s store.” (That was the truth.)
After school, I asked Nancy if she wanted to come over and play.
“It will be you, me, and Natalie,” I said. I said it loudly enough for Natalie to hear.
I was glad to see that Natalie looked a lot better than she had the night before. Being nice to her was working really well. And you know what? It was easy.
Tears
Mommy picked Natalie, Nancy, and me up after school. I made sure Natalie sat in the middle. I did not want her to feel left out.
“What would you like for a snack?” I asked when we got home.
“Bread with honey is good,” said Natalie. “And apple juice to drink.”
“Okay,” I replied. “You can have anything you want.”
I took out apple juice and three cups. I took out bread and honey for Natalie. I took out crackers, peanut butter, and cheese squeeze for Nancy and me. (It was our favorite snack.)
Nancy and I started spreading peanut butter and cheese on our crackers and eating them. Natalie sat and looked at her bread and honey.
“Is anything wrong?” I asked.
“Um, could you toast the bread?” said Natalie.
“Of course.”
I toasted the bread. Then I put it back on Natalie’s plate. Natalie still sat and looked at it.
“Is it too dark or something?” I asked.
“It’s okay. Could I have some butter?”
I took out butter for Natalie. Nancy and I were already finished with our snack. We had to wait while Natalie spread the butter. We had to wait while she spread the honey. Then we had to wait while she ate. Natalie is a very slow eater.
By the time Natalie finished, we did not have time to play Lovely Ladies or anything fun. We had to do our homework for Ms. Colman. She had given us a worksheet about flying.
When Nancy left, Natalie and I went to my room.
“Do you want to play with Emily Junior?” I asked.
“Ew, no. Rats are gross,” said Natalie.
I hoped Emily Junior did not hear her. That would hurt her feelings. I was mad at Natalie for saying something so mean. But I did not tell her so.
Natalie and I had a tea party with Hyacynthia. Then Mommy called, “It’s almost time for supper, girls. Please wash up and come downstairs.”
I let Natalie wash up first. She left the water dripping and her towel on the floor. But I still did not say a word.
At supper, Natalie took the chicken wing I wanted. She took the biggest piece of cake. And when Seth tried to put honey in his tea, his hands got all sticky. That’s because Natalie had dripped honey down the sides of the jar.
After dinner, Andrew did not get to watch his favorite TV show. Natalie wanted to watch another channel.
No one complained. We were all being so, so nice to Natalie.
While she was watching her TV show, the phone rang. I hoped it was for me. But it wasn’t.
“Natalie! It’s for you,” called Mommy. “It’s your parents.”
“Hi, Mommy. Hi, Daddy,” said Natalie into the phone. I could see her chin start to quiver. Two seconds later, she burst into tears.
After the phone call, I tried to cheer Natalie up.
“Do you want me to make you another snack?” I asked.
Natalie shook her head.
“Do you want to wear my new barrette to school tomorrow?”
She shook her head again.
Nothing I tried was working. I was happy when Mommy said it was time for bed.
The Kite People
On Tuesday afternoon, I invited Nancy and Hannie to my house. I thought that might cheer up Natalie. It did.
“You mean I will get to play with the Three Musketeers?” asked Natalie, with a big smil
e.
“Yup,” I replied. “I have a plan, too.”
When we reached my house I told my friends the plan. “I think we should make little paper kites. We can fly them in the yard,” I said.
“Great!” Nancy cried. “I will make a kitten kite to go with my cat kite.”
“I will make a puppy kite,” said Hannie.
“I have an even better idea,” said Natalie.
We turned to look at her. Natalie did not usually get ideas.
“Instead of making kites, maybe we can fly ourselves,” said Natalie. “There must be a way to do it. We could be kite people.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Ms. Colman has been teaching us about flying. And she never said anything about people flying by themselves.”
“Let’s make some wings and try it anyway,” said Natalie.
Even though I was worried, I said okay. I did not want Natalie to be unhappy.
We made the wings out of cardboard. We used lots of string to tie the wings to our arms.
“Now let’s go outside and try them,” said Natalie.
We took turns standing in the middle of the porch stairs and jumping down. I flapped my wings. But I did not feel as if I were flying. I felt the way I always felt when I jumped from the middle of the stairs.
We tried jumping from the top step next. I flapped my arms hard. Even that did not feel like flying. And when I landed, it hurt my knees.
“Ouch!” I cried.
“I think we need to be higher,” said Natalie. “We need more time to flap our wings before we land.”
I was getting nervous. Mommy would not be happy if she knew we were jumping from high places. So I thought of a place to try that wasn’t too high.
“Follow me,” I said. I led Nancy, Hannie, and Natalie to the back of the yard shed where we keep our garbage cans. The top of the shed was not much higher than the stairs.
“How will we get to the top?” asked Nancy.
“We will climb on the garbage cans,” said Natalie.
We dragged the cans out of the shed. They made an awful lot of noise. Mommy must have heard it. She came running outside just as we were about to climb on the cans.