The Kite Festival at Cooper’s Bay
A story about learning to fly a kite and about choosing a safe, open place to do it.
Every March, the little town of Cooper’s Bay held a kite festival. The beach filled with colour: dragons, diamonds, fish and giant octopuses with long, trailing legs. Ruby had come with her grandmother, and she had a brand-new kite in her bag.
It was a plain red diamond with a white tail. Ruby had chosen it herself at the shop. But when she tried to launch it, the kite flopped on the sand. She tried again, and it twisted and fell. “It will not go up,” she said.
An old man with a white beard was watching from a deckchair. “I might be able to help,” he said. “My name is Mr Hale, and I made kites for fifty years.” Ruby smiled with relief. “Please,” she said.
“First,” said Mr Hale, “we need to choose a safe spot. A wide, open space, far from power lines, trees and roads.” He pointed to the middle of the beach, where the sand was clear and flat. “And never fly in a storm.”
“Second, stand with your back to the wind. Hold the kite up, and let it catch the breeze.” Ruby held the spool tightly. “Third, let the string out slowly, a little at a time.” She took a deep breath, and let it go.
The kite lifted. It wobbled, and then steadied. The red diamond climbed higher and higher, its white tail dancing behind. Ruby’s heart thumped. She let out more string. The kite soared above the other kites, a bright red dot in a blue sky.
“I am flying it!” she called. Her grandmother clapped. Mr Hale chuckled. “You have a natural touch,” he said. “Remember to keep your feet planted, and to hold the string gently.” Ruby promised.
At the end of the day, the festival gave out ribbons. Ruby won one for “Best First-Time Flyer.” She tied it to her kite’s string. As the sun set, she wound the string in slowly, and the kite came gently down to the sand.
“Thank you,” she told Mr Hale. He winked. “Next year, make your own,” he said. “I will show you how.” Ruby smiled, and carried her kite home, already dreaming of the next festival.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Choose a wide, open space away from power lines and roads when flying a kite.
- Learning from someone experienced makes new skills easier.
- Patience and a gentle hand help a kite stay in the air.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- What safety rules did Mr Hale share?
- Why did Ruby’s kite not fly at first?
- What would you like to learn to fly or make?
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