Kofi tugged the last knot on their bright kite. The silver bell on his lavender ribbon went jingle-jingle. Nana Ama winked at the wooden frame. "Windy-season kite day waits on the big hill, Kofi. That kite must fly higher than the fishing boats!" Kofi pumped his fist. "Race you up, Nana Ama!" He patted a peanut in his pocket. They marched the dusty path as wind pulled the purple tail.
At the crest the wind spun wild. It whirled in crazy circles, not straight like town wind. Nana Ama planted her feet wide. "Hold the string tight, Kofi!" The kite jerked left, then right. Kofi's bell jingled fast. A mango basket tipped beside the path. He darted and steadied it with one free hand. "This hill wind plays tricks!" Nana Ama grinned and kept both hands on the string.
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A bigger gust slammed the hill. The string went snap and broke clean. The red-yellow kite soared free over fishing boats and palm tops. Kofi lunged for the trailing end. Too late! Nana Ama pointed down the path. "After it, quick feet!" They scrambled downhill. The kite danced toward busy market roofs. Kofi's bell rang with every leap.
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In the market the kite snagged a cloth stall. Vendors waved and shouted. Nana Ama bargained fast, holding up two mangoes. "Trade you for one spare stick!" Kofi wriggled under tables. He freed the kite corner from the cloth. A goat chewed the purple tail. "Hey, that tail is mine!" He held out his peanut. The goat dropped the streamer and trotted off.
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They raced after the kite with the spare stick safe in Nana Ama's wrap. The kite skimmed the beach then crossed the little bridge. Cold waves licked Kofi's ankles. Nana Ama held his hand firm. "We bend like palm trees. We do not break." Kofi nodded. He stretched the stick and hooked the flying string. The huge baobab loomed close ahead.
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There! The kite hung tangled high in the ancient baobab. Kofi climbed the thick roots. Nana Ama boosted him from below. "Steady, my brave boy." He reached the purple tail first. Careful fingers untwisted every loop from the rough bark. The kite came free at last. They slid down the roots, grinning so wide their cheeks ached.
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They mended the broken string with the market stick and tight new knots. Back on the hill Kofi ran hard into the wind. The kite rose higher than the boats, higher than the palms. Nana Ama squeezed his shoulder. "Thank you for chasing with me." Kofi's bell jingled soft. "Thank you for every boost, Nana Ama." Their mended kite ruled the wide sky.
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