Megan Hsu, 5th Grade
Glen Head Elementary
Delicate A delicate girl leads a delicate life in a delicate world. She decorates her room with delicate things, filling it with tiny statues and delicate rings. She has a devoted father, caring mother, and reckless brother. He does not clean up or care about the delicate things his sister cherishes. They fight about who is right. “Deidra! Why did you take my toy?!� yells Calvin, a mischievous little boy.
Megan Hsu, 5th Grade
Glen Head Elementary
One day, Deidra searches her mother’s closet hoping to find the dainty ring she lost - She discovers a mystery instead. An empty vase, covered with dust. Deidra’s mother appears beside her, astonished by what Deidra holds. She carefully reaches out. Deidra looks at her mother curiously. Her mother touches the glass like it is priceless. “This vase belonged to Grandma Anabelle,” Deidra’s mother says softly. Her mother lets Deidra keep the delicate vase. The vase is very smooth. The girl is delighted. They go to a field filled with delicate things, like fragile flowers and butterflies with gossamer wings.
Megan Hsu, 5th Grade
Glen Head Elementary
The roses Deidra picks prick her delicate fingertips. At home, they place the flowers in the elegant vase. Deidra holds the vase gingerly. Her fingers bleed, her hands shake. Her mother rushes over. Gently lifting her hand, she calls, “Calvin, take the vase to your sister’s room, please!” Calvin runs to his mother, nods and picks up the vase. Calvin peeks at his sister’s fingertips, Backing away he stumbles. Deidra frowns. Upstairs, he trips, his body slamming the floor. He drops the vase. SMASH! Beside him lay the toys he should have put away before. Deidra’s mother races upstairs, and sees the shattered vase.
Megan Hsu, 5th Grade
Glen Head Elementary
Furious that the vase is broken, Deidra hollers, “Why are you always so careless?! Can’t you be like the rest of us?!” Her brother runs to his room and slams the door. He lays on his bed while he sobs. The girl stares at the shattered pieces of what was once the delicate vase. Her mother walks toward her. “Deidra, don’t be too hard on your brother- it’s just a vase, so please apologize. Not everyone can be as graceful as you. There’s nothing wrong with that. Some people are delicate inside, even if they seem that they are not.” The girl quietly creeps into Calvin’s room, where he cries softly into his pillow. He looks like a sad and delicate teddy bear. Her mother is right.
Megan Hsu, 5th Grade
Glen Head Elementary
The boy looks up with tears in his eyes, and cries, “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault!” Deidra shakes her head , “No- I’m sorry. I should have been gentle, but here I am, making you cry.” “But, I bro-” “Calvin, it’s just a vase. It’s not your fault that it’s so delicate. You are the best brother in the world no matter what.”
Megan Hsu, 5th Grade
Glen Head Elementary
Calvin smiles. Deidra will always be the delicate girl with a silly brother. Calvin might not be graceful or elegant like his sister, but he still is delicate inside, and he always will be.
The End