The Wide Tail

Ages 6-9

Zisha wants the longest strip for his paper fish.

His friend has already folded it into a fan tail.

Zisha holds a shorter strip against his own fish.

It does not reach the end he drew in pencil.

"I need that one," he says.

His friend keeps folding.

Zisha puts down the short strip. Beside it, a square scrap has one corner cut away.

He folds the scrap once, then opens it. Two wide parts spread out from the fold.

Zisha holds it behind his fish.

His friend finishes the long fan tail.

Zisha rubs away the last part of his outline. He fastens the square scrap behind the fish.

They place both fish on the pretend water sheet.

His friend's long tail reaches toward the edge. Zisha's short tail opens wide beside it, with a faint old pencil line beyond its end.