The friendly helpers [short story]

Title

Creator

Flores, Pancita

Language

English

Year

1941

Subject

Short stories, Philippine (English)

Philippine fiction (English)

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

[Jo, Samuel and Daniel are flying their kites. Daniel shows off his kite made by his uncle. Unfortunately, Daniel's kite got broke as it hit a big tree. Jo and Samuel helps him to make a new one.]

Fulltext

APRIL, 1941 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 131 LITTLE STORIES FOR LITTLE PEOPLE THE FRIENDLY HELPERS ADAPTED BY PANCITA FLORES SCHOOL had been closed for a week. The novelty of vacation was beginning to wear off. "Let's cfo something, Jo," said Samuel. "What will it be?" asked Jo. "I think it's a wonderful day to fly our kites," cried Samuel, happily. "And it's just windy enough to make them go 'way up high, too," added Jo. The boys hurriedly ate their breakfast. They could scarcely wait to get out-of-doors, so anxious were they to get their kites in the air. Jo and Samuel were very proud of their kites. They had made them all by themselves, and now they could hardly wait to see how high they would go. It was not long until the kites of both boys were high up in the air. "See how high my kite· is!" cried Jo. "Look at mine! It's sailing right along, too," laughed Samuel. Soon Daniel came running over to play with the boys. "Look!" he called. "I have a kite, too. I think my kite is prettier than yours." And Daniel held it up for the other boys to see. What a beautiful kite it was! It was ni.ade out of thin, shiny green paper. Jo and Samuel looked at the kite longingly. It was by far the nicest kite they had ever seen! "My uncle made it for me," said Daniel. "He bought me this kind of paper because it is just right for making kites. It is so light it will go higher than any kite you ever saw. You just watch!'.' Sure enough, up went Daniel's kite, higher and higher. Soon itwas as high as Jo's and Samuel's kites. But Daniel unwound more string, and up went the kite higher than ever. "Oh," said Samuel sadly. "I thought our kites were so nice, but Daniel's is much nicer, and look how high it goes." "I wish ours were like that," decided Jo. "But we had only that old wrapping pa per to make ours from." The two boys tried not to feel too bad as they.watched Daniel's kite flying 'way up above theirs. · "I'm ·glad my kite is the best," thought Daniel happily, as he ran along the field, letting out more string so that the kite went higher and higher. Poor Daniel! He was so busy thinking how wonderful his kite was that he forgot all about watching where he was going. Nearer and nearer to the big, tall trees he ran. Suddenly along came We can make a new kite. 132 THE YOUNG CITIZEN APRIL, 1941 a big gust of wind. "Oh," cried Daniel, looking very frightened, "my kite is going right into the tree." He started to pull the string as fast as he could, but it was too late! Straight toward the tree went his beautiful kite. "Oh, it's all broken!" cried Daniel. "My pretty green kite is all spoiled." There it was, up in the top of the tree. The pa per was torn and the framework was broken. And the string was tangled up in the branches. Daniel stood and looked at his kite as if he could hardly believe his eyes.· Just then Jo and Samuel came running up ·to him. "I'm sorry about your kite," Jo said to Daniel. "I'm sorry, too," added Samuel. "It was such a pretty kite." "And now it's spoiled," cried Daniel, rubbing his eyes. "Maybe you can make another one like it," suggested Jo. · But Daniel shook his head. "I don't know how to make a kite," he said. "My uncle made this .one· for me." '.'You can ta.ke turns flying our kites," said Samuel kinqly. "But that isn't so much0 fun as having one all your own," said Jo. "I know what. we can do," he added excitedly. "We·can help Daniel make a new kite. We know how. We made ours at! by ourselVes." How happy that made Daniel feel! But he· was a little bit ashamed of himself, too. "I'm sorry I tried .to show off with my kite," he said. "I guess that's why it got smashed. Unde gave me a big pile of that p~per, .~w! you.c.a_n_ti!!.ve some for your kites if you want it." What a busy morning the three boys had! They worked as hard as they could. "There!" said Samuel with satisfaction. "They're all finished!" How happy the boys were when they looked at their three new kites! 'there was a pretty red one for Samuel, a nice bright blue one for Jo, and a green one for Daniel that looked exactly like the one his uncle had made. · "Come on," called Samuel. "Now let's see how high they will go." Soon the three kites were flying high up in. the sky. QUESTIONS !. What had Jo and Samuel made? ·2 .. Why were they proud of them? 3. Why did Daniel's kite fly higher than the other kites? 4. What happened to Daniel's kite? 5. What did Jo and Samuel say they would do to help Daniel? 6. Why did Daniel feel ashamed? . 7. What did Daniel give to the other two boys? 8. What colors were the three new kites? 9. Do you try to show off when you have something nice, or do you try to share it with your friends? Which is the better way? 10. Did you like this story? Why? 11. What have you learned from this story? 12. Do you think you could do as Jo and Samuel did in this story? 13. Do you think all the boys were happier when they became "friendly helpers"? 14. Do you tr.y to avoid being jealous? Or envious? 15. How do you avoid jealousy?

pages

131-132

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