Flat Kirsten

  Flat Kirsten's Back Story

 Flat Kirsten could still remember the horse rolling over the top of her.  When she came to, the doctor was telling her mom she would be flat forever.  She remembered that she thought it might be fun to slip under doors and hide behind pictures.  It was for awhile, and then she needed something more.  One day her round self folded her up and stuffed her into an envelope.  It felt like she had been in there forever.  Suddenly, there was a flash of light, a hand grabbed her and Flat Kirsten was being dragged out by her head.  There before her eyes appeared a whole class of children.  She wasn't afraid.  They were all smiling and pointing.  Flat Kirsten looked around and there hanging on the wall were at least twenty other flat people.  After hanging on the wall with her new flat friends, she was once again folded up.  This time she stayed in the envelope for many months.  Her new life was coming out once a year and hanging on the wall with other flat children.  Over and over she hung on the wall, and over and over she wished for something more.

 Getting Ready

One day Mrs. Seller reached into the file drawer where Flat Kirsten has lived for the last thirteen years.  As she was being unfolded, she thought, "Good grief!  It sure feels good to stretch.  I miss hanging on the wall with all my flat friends."  Before long, her eyes began to focus.  She could see the outside world with its trees and bushes.  The last time she had been out of Room 11 was when a group of second graders showed her White Oaks School.  She looked up and heard a friendly voice say, "There she is.  Flat Kirsten has arrived just in time to help load up the trailer."  As her brain cleared, she looked more closely and she recognized her grandfather.  "It's Papa," he reminded her.  Although her smile was fixed, she tried to make it bigger.  She could see the sparkle in his eyes and knew he was feeling the happiness she was feeling.  They set right to work hitching the trailer to the car.  It took a bit of time, but they did it.  It was now time to get into the car to get the furniture that was going to Texas.  Flat Kirsten was excited as she listened to her grandparents talk about their plans.  She had not seen her round self in lots of years.  "WOW!" she thought, "It's time for a reunion!"

Loading Up

Riding in the car was a new experience.  At first, I kept sliding down onto the floor.  "This won't due," I heard a voice say from the front of the car.  You need to wear your seat belt."  Before long Nana stopped the car and helped me put on my seat belt.  It worked alright except my head kept flopping forward.  "A little tape will fix that," said Papa.  After a little tape and some minor adjustments, I could actually see out the car window.  I had never been in a car before.  Everything was rushing by very fast.  I was feeling a bit dizzy.  Before long, we stopped in a long driveway.  I tried to get out, but the tape and seat belt made this impossible.  I could hear Nana say, "We have our flat granddaughter with us.  Let me get her."  The door opened. Before I knew it, I was being greeting by all the people at K. B. Bell Construction.  I learned they were going to help us load up the trailer.  First, they put in my great-grandfather's table.  Next, they turned a large round table upside down and loaded it into the trailer.  After six chairs, we were ready to go.  Thank yous and hugs and kisses all around and we were on the road.