A Kite in the Clouds

The wind tugged at the bright red kite as Ava tightened her grip on the string. Her dad stood a few feet away, smiling as he watched her. It was a perfect day for kite flying—sunny but breezy, with big, fluffy clouds dotting the sky. To Ava, the kite seemed alive, dancing and weaving as if it had a mind of its own.

“Don’t let go!” her dad called out.

“I’ve got it!” Ava shouted back, though the string tugged against her small hands.

As the kite climbed higher, Ava noticed how the clouds seemed to gather around it, almost as if they were guiding its path. “Dad,” she said, her voice curious, “do you think clouds ever feel lost up there?”

Her dad walked over and crouched beside her. “What makes you ask that?”

Ava shrugged, her eyes fixed on the kite as it dipped and soared. “I don’t know. They float around all day, but they don’t really have anywhere to go. They just… drift.”

Her dad smiled thoughtfully. “Maybe they’re not lost. Maybe they’re exploring. Just like your kite.”

Ava frowned. “But my kite has me to guide it. What do the clouds have?”

“Each other,” her dad said. “And the wind.”

For a moment, Ava thought about that. “I guess that makes sense. But what if the wind takes them somewhere they don’t want to go?”

Her dad adjusted the brim of his hat, watching the kite. “That happens sometimes. Life’s a lot like flying a kite. You can guide it and try to keep it steady, but you can’t control the wind. Sometimes, you’ve just got to trust that it’ll take you where you need to be.”

Ava held onto the string tightly as the kite dipped low, almost touching the ground, before soaring back up. “But what if it crashes?” she asked quietly.

“It might,” her dad admitted. “But you know what you do then?”

“What?”

“You pick it back up, fix it if you need to, and let it fly again.”

Ava smiled a little. “So, the clouds are like life, and the kite is like me?”

“Exactly,” her dad said, nodding. “The clouds might seem big and uncertain, but they’re part of the journey. Your kite is you—figuring out how to navigate, sometimes struggling, but always finding a way to fly.”

For a while, they stood there in silence, Ava focusing on keeping the kite steady as it climbed higher into the sky. The string pulled and twisted, but she held firm, learning how to adjust when the wind changed. She could feel the tension in her hands, but it didn’t scare her. It felt… exciting. Like she was part of something bigger.

When the wind finally started to die down, Ava reeled in the kite. It fluttered and swayed but came back to her safely. She hugged it tightly, looking up at the clouds that still drifted overhead.

“Thanks, Dad,” she said softly.

“For what?” he asked.

“For helping me figure it out.”

Her dad smiled and ruffled her hair. “You’re welcome. Just remember, even when the wind feels strong and the clouds look big, you’ve got what it takes to handle it.”

Ava looked at her kite, then back at the sky. “I think I’ll be okay.”

Her dad chuckled. “I know you will.”

And as they walked back home, the clouds began to scatter, and Ava couldn’t help but feel a little lighter—like a kite ready to fly again.

Phrasal Verbs & Example Sentences

Let go – To release something.

  • Example: “Don’t let go!” her dad called out.

Tug at – To pull gently but firmly.

  • Example: “The wind tugged at the bright red kite.”

Figure out – To understand or solve something.

  • Example: “Thanks, Dad, for helping me figure it out.”

Pick up – To lift or recover something.

  • Example: “You pick it back up, fix it if you need to, and let it fly again.”

Hold on – To keep a firm grip.

  • Example: “Ava held onto the string tightly.”

 

Phrasal Verb Quiz

Fill in the Blank with the Correct Phrasal Verb

  1. Ava’s dad yelled, “Don’t ________ the string, no matter how strong the wind gets!”

  2. The wind continued to ________ the bright red kite as it soared higher into the sky.

  3. “Thanks for helping me ________ what to do,” Ava said with a smile.

  4. If the kite crashes, you can always ________, fix it, and try again.

  5. Ava ________ tightly to the string, adjusting her grip when the wind shifted.

Answers: Phrasal Verbs

  1. Let go

  2. Tug at

  3. Figure out

  4. Pick it back up

  5. Held on

 

Idioms & Example Sentences

Part of the journey – Something that contributes to the process of life

  • Example: “The clouds might seem big and uncertain, but they’re part of the journey.”

Find a way to fly – To navigate life successfully despite challenges.

  • Example: “Your kite is you—figuring out how to navigate, sometimes struggling, but always finding a way to fly.”

Big and uncertain – Something that feels overwhelming or unpredictable.

  • Example: “The clouds might seem big and uncertain.”

Pick it back up – To recover or start over after a failure.

  • Example: “You pick it back up, fix it if you need to, and let it fly again.”

Handle it – To manage or deal with a situation.

  • Example: “You’ve got what it takes to handle it.”

Idiom Quiz

Fill in the Blank with the Correct Idiom

  1. The clouds might seem ________, but they are just part of navigating life.

  2. Ava’s dad reminded her that challenges are ________ and need to be faced step by step.

  3. Ava was learning how to ________ despite the strong winds tugging at the kite.

  4. When the kite dipped, her dad encouraged her to ________ and give it another chance.

  5. “You’ve got what it takes to ________ these tricky winds,” her dad said with confidence.

Answers: Idioms

  1. Big and uncertain

  2. Part of the journey

  3. Find a way to fly

  4. Pick it back up

  5. Handle it

 

Multiple-Choice Questions:

Circle the correct answer.

  1. What is Ava doing at the beginning of the story?
    a. Watching the clouds
    b. Flying a red kite
    c. Talking with her dad about the wind
    d. Fixing a broken kite

  2. What question does Ava ask her dad about the clouds?
    a. Why do clouds move so quickly?
    b. Do clouds ever feel lost?
    c. How are clouds formed?
    d. Why are some clouds bigger than others?

  3. What comparison does Ava’s dad make between the clouds and the kite?
    a. Clouds are like dreams, and the kite is like goals.
    b. Clouds explore, while the kite depends on Ava’s guidance.
    c. Clouds follow the wind, and the kite flies against it.
    d. Clouds are stationary, while the kite moves freely.

  4. What does Ava worry might happen to the kite?
    a. It will get stuck in a tree.
    b. The string will break.
    c. It will crash to the ground.
    d. The wind will carry it away.

  5. How does Ava’s dad explain handling challenges in life?
    a. Always avoid risks.
    b. Trust the wind and fix things if they go wrong.
    c. Rely on others to guide you.
    d. Stick to safe and predictable paths.

  6. What lesson does Ava learn from flying the kite?
    a. It’s fun to compete with the wind.
    b. Life is about trusting the process and adapting to changes.
    c. The wind is unpredictable, so avoid flying kites.
    d. Kites are fragile and require constant repair.

  7. What does Ava say the clouds and the kite symbolize?
    a. The clouds represent life, and the kite represents her.
    b. The clouds represent fear, and the kite represents courage.
    c. The clouds represent dreams, and the kite represents reality.
    d. The clouds represent challenges, and the kite represents strength.

  8. How does Ava feel as she reels in the kite at the end?
    a. Frustrated that the wind died down
    b. Relieved that the kite didn’t crash
    c. Confident and ready to face challenges
    d. Disappointed that the kite couldn’t fly higher

  9. What advice does Ava’s dad give her about handling life’s uncertainties?
    a. Always follow the rules.
    b. Trust herself and adapt to the wind.
    c. Avoid situations where the wind is strong.
    d. Wait for someone to help her navigate.

  10. How does Ava feel by the end of the story?
    a. Lighter, like a kite ready to fly again
    b. Nervous about the next challenge
    c. Confused about the lesson her dad taught her
    d. Disheartened that the kite had to come down

Answers: Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. b - Flying a red kite

  2. b - Do clouds ever feel lost?

  3. b - Clouds explore, while the kite depends on Ava’s guidance.

  4. c - It will crash to the ground.

  5. b - Trust the wind and fix things if they go wrong.

  6. b - Life is about trusting the process and adapting to changes.

  7. a - The clouds represent life, and the kite represents her.

  8. c - Confident and ready to face challenges.

  9. b - Trust herself and adapt to the wind.

  10. a - Lighter, like a kite ready to fly again.

 

Thought Provoking Question

  • Do you agree with Ava’s dad’s idea that we can guide our kites (ourselves) but not control the wind (life)?

  • Why or why not?