Outside, a strong wind blew, and the cypress trees swayed north and south, almost hitting each other. On the clothesline in the neighboring building, the clothes’ sleeves danced with the wind. After the shift ended, the boys gathered at the club. Badr put his face on the window glass, looked outside, and said, “This is exactly the right time to build a kite.”
The guide Suad said, “We will build a big kite at home.” Badr said, “You will see tomorrow the beautiful kite we will bring.” Ahlam said, “Yes, yes. I, Ali, Majid, and Fadi are friends and neighbors. We will prepare a big kite at home and bring it tomorrow to the club.” The guide said, “Good. If the wind continues to blow tomorrow, we will all go out to fly the kite.”
On the same day, the boys worked with great effort. First, they prepared the reed pieces in Ali’s house courtyard. Then Ahlam carefully held the reed sticks, and Ali tied them well together. As for Fadi and Majid, they took the colored transparent paper, cut it into triangles, and pasted them. Then they all cut small colored paper pieces and made a long, beautiful tail for the kite. Badr’s father came and helped them tie a long, strong string to the kite and wrap the other end around a wooden piece.
Finally, the kite was completed—a huge, colored kite with a long, beautiful tail. The boys tired, and the time for rest came. Ahlam saw in her dream the kite rising and flying high above the cypress tree tops. In the afternoon after the shift, the boys hurried to Badr’s house to take the kite to the club. Badr grabbed the kite, Ahlam grabbed the tail, and Ali grabbed the string wrapped around the wooden piece. They went out together to the street.
Majid and Fadi wanted to grab the kite, but Badr did not agree, so they pushed him a little. Badr stumbled and fell on Ahlam. The kite’s tail slipped from her hand and got stuck on the wall. Ali hurried to grab the tail, so he stepped on Rana’s foot. Rana got angry and hit him. Badr wanted to help Ali, so Rana cursed him, and they all began to quarrel and fell on Ahlam. The paper kite fell on the sidewalk, torn and broken. The boys got up from the ground and saw the poor kite. Ahlam said, “You are the cause,” and tears filled her eyes. The boys took the broken kite and went to the club, ashamed of themselves. They remained silent.
The guide asked, “What is this? Is this the big, beautiful kite we have been waiting for so long?” She rebuked them for their deed. The children regretted and said they had learned the lesson well…