“Origami Friends,” Friend, May 2023, 30–31.
Origami Friends
How could Ari and her friends help Mrs. Franklin?
This story took place in the USA.
“Break time!” Ari’s teacher called.
Ari’s classmates lined up to go outside to the playground. But Ari and her friends always went to the library instead. They liked to borrow books and do crafts together.
Kristin and Ella were already waiting by the door. Ari grabbed her book and a stack of paper. Then she led the way down the hall.
“I hope The Dragon Keeper’s Secret is back!” Ari said. “I’ve wanted to borrow it for weeks.”
When they got to the library, the girls waved at Mrs. Franklin, the school librarian. She always greeted them with a bright smile. But today her smile didn’t seem as bright.
Ari frowned as she set her book on a table. “Did Mrs. Franklin seem kind of sad to you?”
Kristin shrugged. “She was probably just busy.”
“Maybe.” Ari sat down and pulled out a piece of paper. She folded it carefully, smoothing the fold with her thumb.
“What are we making today?” Ella asked.
“How about bookmarks?” Ari said. “They’re pretty easy. I’ll show you.”
Ari had been learning how to make origami. It was a type of art from Japan, done by folding paper into different shapes. Ari knew how to make all kinds of shapes, and she taught her friends what she learned.
Ari showed Kristin and Ella how to make each fold. Soon all three of them had a little square bookmark.
“It goes on the corner, like this.” Ari opened her book and slipped the bookmark over the corner of a page.
“Cool!” Kristin grabbed another paper. “I want to try it by myself.”
While they worked, they talked about books they had read and what they wanted to read next. Ari glanced again at Mrs. Franklin. She still seemed a little sad.
Soon Mrs. Franklin stopped by their table.
“Hi, girls.” She set a book on the table. It was the dragon keeper book! “This is for you, Ari. I know you’ve been waiting to read it.”
“Thank you!” Ari picked it up.
Mrs. Franklin sighed. “Someone robbed my car today. They took all my books and music.”
“That’s awful!” Kristin said.
Mrs. Franklin gave them a sad smile. “Well, it’s only stuff. Stuff can be replaced. I’m just glad no one was hurt.”
Ari watched Mrs. Franklin walk away.
“I wish we could do something to help,” Ella said.
Ari looked down at the origami bookmark in her hands. “Maybe we can!”
“Like what?” Kristin asked.
Ari grinned. “Come to my house after school. I have an idea.”
The next day, Ari, Kristin, and Ella went to the library during their break, like they always did. But this time, they didn’t just bring books. They had something special for Mrs. Franklin.
“We made these for you!” Ari gave Mrs. Franklin a bag. “We know we can’t replace all the things that were stolen, but we thought these might cheer you up.”
Mrs. Franklin looked inside the bag. It was full of origami—bookmarks, fish, hearts, butterflies. She smiled big.
“This is amazing! Thank you so much.” She pulled a piece of origami from the bag. It was folded to make a tiny book. “I’m going to use this mini journal to write all my happy little thoughts!”
Ari smiled back. She could always do something nice for others—one paper fold at a time.
Illustrations by Brian Martin