ROTM - Talk about the one that got away.

It was classic and beautiful. My red diamond kite.

Gram and Gramps gave it to me for my ninth birthday. I was so excited and spent a whole week putting it together, just right. God, the tail was this endless orange ribbon, about two inches wide. It was the last piece to go on, and then, it was ready to soar.

I remember it was the week before school started. I waited for the perfect day to take it out. The wind was ideal, or so I thought. I remember running in the park near my house when a strong gust took it straight up. I wanted to see how high I could get it, so I kept unwinding more of the string. By the time I'd realized that I was at the end of the spool, it was too late. I hadn't tied off the end of the spool, so as I unwound it that very last time, my beautiful red kite just flew away, tail and string dancing in the air.

I stood there and watched it disappear over the trees. It's kind of weird, but I wasn't entirely heartbroken. I mean, sure, on one hand, my beautiful red kite was gone for good, but on the other hand, how many kids could say their kites made it to the moon?


x-posted realmof_themuse
Nick Stokes
CSI