The KiteAuthorBarnabas Ramone FortuneSource: Vintage: An Anthology of Short Stories and Poems by Uriel Narinesingh.
Phillip Makes His Kite
I want a kite. I am big enough to handle it! I am going to make my own!
I will just use mama's good linen and take her scissors and thread from her workbasket.
This is an adapted version of the story.
Phillip Gets Caught
At age seven, Phillip felt that he was big enough to have a kite. He dreamed of kites at night, flew them in his imagination, and would stand for a long time looking almost tirelessly at the kites of the bigger boys floating in the air like birds drifting by. He thought of kites so much that he was going to have one even at the risk of a licking.
Phillip's New Kite
"Phillip, your mother has told me some bad things about you. ""I should flog you but I will not. You have been asking me for a kite for a long time and I've been telling you you're too little. But you've proved that you are big and brave enough to have a kite.
EVENT ONE
We have lots of kites here at Ramdeen's. Choose which colour you wish to have!
When Phillip's mom found out what he was up to, she was very upset and told him to wait until his father hears about it. That evening after supper, Phillip's dad spoke to Phillip about using his mother's expensive linen to make a kite. But instead of punishing him, Phillip's dad realized that his son was ready for his first kite.
First Flight Drama
On the following afternoon, Phillip went with his father to Ramdeen's hut to buy a kite. After fixing it properly, Phillip headed to the savannah to fly his kite.
Phillip's Problem
Phillip flew his kite beautifully in the sky, until he saw the boy with the yellow kite trying to attack his kite. He tried with all his might but suddenly the yellow kite cut Phillip's thread in a sudden upward, sweeping light. Phillip felt the thread go slack and saw his kite sag in the air, then went spinning, drifting and falling, entangled in a tree.
Dad's Advice
Phillip knew the boy was too big to fight. He left his reel of thread in the savannah , then turned and walked away.
Phillip's Revenge
Phillip rushed up to the boy with the yellow kite. "You cut my kite! " Phillip screamed. "I'll...I'll kill you!""Go and learn to fly a kite, " the freckled-face boy jeered. "Never hear 'bout the Dragon? When the Dragon in the sky no other kite could fly, " he boasted.
Phillip's dad consoled him when he saw that he had lost his kite. The following afternoon, Phillip was once again in the savannah flying his own kite. He continued flying kites throughout the holidays.
Phillip's red kite dived madly downwards. It was a wild, uncontrolled, vindictive thing. The Dragon buckled in the sky then went spinning giddily, its tail looping over its thread, close to the kite as if hiding its face. The Dragon was a speck in the sky.
Image Attributions:1487713 (https://www.pexels.com/photo/gray-textile-closeup-photo-1487713/) - Engin Akyurt - License: Free To Use / No Attribution Required / See https://www.pexels.com/license/ for what is not allowed1188214 (https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-red-flowering-trees-beside-body-of-water-1188214/) - Dominic M Contreras - License: Free To Use / No Attribution Required / See https://www.pexels.com/license/ for what is not allowed
His dad gave him an important piece of advice. "Now son, don't be a coward,. Stay there and fight. This is a man's world. No dragon ever lasted forever. You are going to make your own kites now and I'll help you. Not until you have downed the Dragon will you get another of Ramdeen's kites."
It was towards the end of the season during which Phillip flew a bright red kite. This time, however, when he met the Dragon, he was prepared to fight with more skill. He was victorious! Phillip's kite had defeated the Dragon! Did he want to get one of Ramdeen's kites now? No, he decided, he would match his kite against any of Ramdeen's any day!
Afbeelding Attributies
1188214 - Dominic M Contreras - (Licentie Free To Use / No Attribution Required / See https://www.pexels.com/license/ for what is not allowed
)
1487713 - Engin Akyurt - (Licentie Free To Use / No Attribution Required / See https://www.pexels.com/license/ for what is not allowed
)