Chapter 1 GO FLY A KITE

 

  Henry Heckelbeck and his best friend, Dudley Day, raced into the backyard.

  Both boys stared at the tops of the trees. They watched the leaves flutter in the wind.

   

  “This is a PERFECT kite day,” Henry declared.

  “Finally!” agreed Dudley. The boys had been waiting for a windy day for weeks.

  They grabbed their kites, invited Henry’s dad, and then went to the park.

   

   

  Henry had a green-purple- and-blue kite. Dudley had a big rainbow-colored kite that was shaped like a diamond.

   

  At the park, the boys passed a kickball game, picnickers, and a dad playing catch with his daughter. Soon they found an open area.

   

  The boys backed away from each other so their lines wouldn’t get tangled. Then they grabbed their kites in one hand and their spools in the other.

  “Ready?” yelled Dudley.

  Henry nodded. Then both boys began to run. They let out their lines slowly. The kites began to climb into the air. The more line they let out, the higher the kites climbed.

 

   

 

“Let’s do some tricks!” Henry cried. He made his kite dive and spin.

   

  Dudley made his kite go in a figure eight. Then a huge gust of wind snapped Henry’s line, and his kite flew away.

   

 

   

 

   

  “Oh no! My kite!” Henry raced after his runaway kite.

  Dudley spooled his line and ran after Henry. Soon the wind began to let up, and Henry’s kite began to fall.

  Wisp! Wisp! Wisp! The kite swished toward the ground, and… CRASH!