The Blank Tag

Ages 12-15

Toby's paper box has a lid that fits.

She takes it off, puts it on again, and sets the box beside the matching name tag. There is room for her name and a small border.

Across the table, another girl is bending the sides of her lid.

"Fold those little corner tabs first," Toby says. "On the lines. Then tuck them in."

"I can just press them down."

The girl pushes one tab inside and moves to the next. The first springs out.

Toby picks up the blank tag. She wants to draw tiny blue leaves around its edge.

"Could you hold this?" the girl asks.

Toby looks up. Two corners of the lid are open. The girl has flattened it again to fold the tabs on their lines.

"I'll tuck these in while you hold the sides."

Toby puts down her pencil.

Her hands are nearly at the lid when she stops.

"So I was right about the folds."

The girl points to the corner nearest Toby.

"Can you hold this corner?"

Toby leaves her hands on her own side of the table.

"That's what I told you to do."

The girl folds a tab and tries to keep it tucked with her thumb. When she reaches for the opposite side, the first side lifts.

Toby watches it.

Her name tag lies beside her wrist. The teacher has said they will put everything away when the clock reaches four.

The girl presses the corner flat again.

"I only need you to hold it."

Toby turns her tag toward herself and draws one blue leaf.

Across the table, the tab slips out again.

Toby sets the pencil down.

"Which two sides?"

The girl shows her.

Toby holds them upright. Her fingers cover the place where the girl needs to tuck the next tab.

"A little farther back."

Toby moves her fingers.

The girl folds along the line and pushes the tab behind the side. Then she does the opposite corner. Toby keeps holding until both stay in place.

They turn the lid. The other two tabs fold more easily now.

"Let go," the girl says.

Toby lets go.

The lid holds its shape.

The teacher calls for the tables to be cleared.

The girl puts the lid on her box and gathers the loose paper around it.

Toby's tag has one blue leaf and no name.

She slips it inside her own box and puts on the lid.