Two Friends and One Kite

Bleta brought a kite to the Meadow. It was red and yellow, with a long tail that fluttered in the wind. “This kite is for both of you, Nini and Dali!” she said.

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Nini grabbed one side of the kite, and Dali grabbed the other. “It’s mine!” said Nini. “No, it’s mine!” said Dali. They pulled and pulled, until the kite flopped onto the grass like a tired leaf.

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Nini took the kite and ran off on her own. She ran fast, but she couldn’t hold the kite and the string at the same time. The kite rose a little, then flopped down again. Nini felt cross, and she stamped her foot.

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Then Dali had a go. He held the string tight, really tight. But Dali was slow, and the kite didn’t lift off at all. Dali felt sad, and his antennae drooped.

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Bleta settled down between them. “What does a kite need to fly?” she asked. Nini thought. “Someone who runs fast.” Dali thought. “And someone who holds the string tight.” They looked at each other.

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This time, Nini ran with the kite while Dali held the string, as steady as a stone. “Now!” called Dali. Nini let go, the wind caught the kite and… up it went, up and up, higher than the trees!

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Once the kite was high in the sky, they took turns holding the string: first Nini, then Dali, then Nini again. The kite danced, and its long tail drew lines across the clouds. They both laughed with joy.

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That evening, tired and happy, they lay down in the grass. “When we were arguing,” said Dali, “we each had half a kite. When we joined together, we had the whole sky!” Nini giggled and counted her dots. “One, two, three, four, five… and one friend!”

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