The paper plate’s tale

Paper Plate

The paper plate was desperate for some excitement. Marc and Jodi often put something on her, such as sand or cut-up coloured paper or glitter or even lumps of play-doh when they were making cakes and biscuits and sprouts and beef burgers. Right now she was sitting under a pile of lolly sticks and their colours were so bright she felt invisible.

“I do wish I could do something really nice,” she sighed. “Like become a ski slope or an ice rink or a moon or… just something exciting.”

A voice spoke from nearby. “You are something. You’re a boring old paper plate. What do you expect? Plates have stuff dumped on them. That’s life.”

Paper plate was upset. She knew that, but wanted more. She sat sadly and watched as Marc and Jodi folded paper aeroplanes. She even tried to be interested in whose plane went furthest and fastest as they threw them down the playroom.

Marc suddenly said, “Hey! I’m going to make a Stealth Invader. It’ll beat your plane any day!”

And Paper Plate found herself lifted out from under the lolly sticks and held up in front of Marc’s eyes. She couldn’t believe what she had heard. A Stealth Invader? From a boring old white paper plate like she was?

But it happened! Marc first of all painted her black and then held her up to dry in the breeze from the window. “This will be the best plane ever,” he said, gazing at her. If she hadn’t been black all over, Paper Plate would have gone red with embarrassment.

Then Marc started folding her in strange ways, until there she sat – a perfect Stealth Invader.

“That’s good at flying against the enemy,” said Jodi. She’d been painting patterns on the wings of her own paper plane. “But will it go faster than mine?”

“Start the contest!” said Marc. “And we’ll see!”

They stood side by side at one end of the playroom and counted: 3…2…1… Paper Plate was shivering with excitement. She didn’t want to let Marc down.

GO!!!!

She flew into space so fast that she could feel the breeze rushing past her. It was exhilarating, fantastic, brilliant! She was really happy.

And as she flew past Jodi’s plane, she also felt a bit sorry for the little paper jet. “It’s only a game,” she called back. “Taking part is what matters.”

But just as she was about to reach the other end of the room, she suddenly felt ill and crumpled up and fell to the floor.

“Oh no!” shouted Marc.

“Oh yes!” shouted Jodi. “Mine’s the winner! The best plane.”

Paper Plate lay on the floor in agony – but there was a huge grin on her face. She looked over at Jodi’s paper plane and said, “Well done.”

“It’s only a game,” said Jodi’s plane kindly.

“I know, I know. And I had such fun. I wanted some excitement and I got it. But I think I’ll just be a boring old paper plate for a while. My sides are killing me.”

“And I’m ready for a sleep,” said Jodi’s plane. “See you in the morning!”

The only sound as Paper Plate fell asleep beside Jodi’s plane was the rattling of the lolly sticks as they laughed and laughed at her. But she didn’t mind. She was the one going to have even more fun in her dreams. Let them laugh if they wanted.

The moral of this Tale is that taking part is the best way of having fun even if you don’t win.