The Kite
Yassin loved gardens. He loved the soft leaves, the tiny beetles, and the way roses opened in the morning. He also loved kites. On sunny days, he watched them dance high above the trees.
One afternoon, his friend Nour came to the garden with a green kite. The kite had yellow stripes and a long red tail.
"Can we fly it?" Nour asked.
"Yes," Yassin said. "The wind is good today."
They ran to the open grass. Nour held the spool, and Yassin lifted the kite. It rose slowly, then higher, like a quiet bird.
Nour smiled. "Look! It is touching the clouds!"
Yassin laughed. He wanted to help. He saw a dry leaf caught in the kite tail. He reached for the little scissors in his pocket. He did not want the leaf to pull the kite down.
But his hand shook. The scissors touched the string.
Snap.
The green kite wobbled. The string slipped from Nour's fingers. It floated away, over the fence, and landed in the tall grass.
Nour's smile went away. "My kite!"
Yassin felt hot. His heart beat fast. He could say, "The wind did it." He could say, "A bird took it." He could say nothing.
He looked at Nour. She was sad, not angry.
Yassin took a deep breath. "Nour," he said. "I cut the string. I was trying to help, but I made a mistake."
Nour looked at the string. Then she looked at Yassin. "Thank you for telling me."
They walked to the kite. It was dusty, but not broken. Yassin picked it up.
"I can help fix it," he said.
Nour nodded. They found a spare string in Nour's bag. Yassin tied a small knot. It was not perfect, but it was strong.
They flew the kite again. This time, Yassin did not reach for the scissors. He just watched the green kite climb.
The wind was soft. The garden smelled like rain. Nour held the spool, and Yassin sat beside her.
"Next time," Nour said, "we can ask before we cut anything."
"Yes," Yassin said. "I will tell you first."
The kite flew high, with its red tail waving. Yassin felt light inside. The truth had made his heart quiet.
When the sun began to set, Nour hugged the kite. Yassin helped her wind the string. They promised to fly it together again tomorrow, in the garden.