Paper Cranes | Teen Ink

Paper Cranes MAG

May 10, 2010
By zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck


She taught him how to make them, one careful fold at a time. Even when he messed up and the wrinkled paper became useless, she patiently handed him another and walked him through the steps again.

One thousand cranes.

One thousand cranes and a wish for each, the same wish, and when the thousand cranes were done, the wish might come true.

She taught him, one crane after another, until one day she couldn't fold them any more; her hands were too shaky to make the careful creases. He took over then, carefully, lovingly folding one crane after another, lifting each finished one to his lips to breathe the wish over it.

He worked at it all through her diagnosis – cancer – through the chemotherapy – no sign of remission – and through the proclamation of her death day – only weeks to live.

He didn't finish in time. She died the moment he completed the nine hundred and ninety-ninth crane.

The thousandth was laid on her grave, a bright spot of red against the gray stone and dying grass. Red like blood and a wish, unfulfilled.

“Let my mother get better.”


The author's comments:
Please tell me what you think... I'd love to get feedback on this.

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This article has 22 comments.


on Nov. 10 2011 at 1:24 pm
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck

Thank you so much!

on Nov. 10 2011 at 1:24 pm
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck

Thank you so much ^^

on Nov. 10 2011 at 1:24 pm
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck

Thank you C:

on Nov. 10 2011 at 7:06 am
IAmWhoIWantToBe PLATINUM, Manila, Other
41 articles 0 photos 650 comments

Favorite Quote:
‎"I’m learning how to drown out the constant noise that is such an inseparable part of my life. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I only have to follow my heart and concentrate on what I want to say to the world: I run my world." - Beyoncé

I enjoyed this story. It's so short and simple but all the more meaningful. I like how he still wished for her sake though she is dead already. Great article. Keep writing!

on Aug. 29 2011 at 10:45 pm
AllanaCal SILVER, Stillwater, Oklahoma
9 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
"There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream." -Author Unkown

It's really sweet. I enjoyed how the boy gives the last crane to his mother as a parting gift. Keep up the good work!

on Jun. 8 2011 at 6:25 pm
Kwigggggg BRONZE, Newmarket, Other
3 articles 0 photos 19 comments

Favorite Quote:
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.

This is so relatable, I can really feel for the "I" character here. Really well done.

on May. 24 2011 at 6:01 pm
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck

Thanks for reading!

on May. 24 2011 at 5:45 pm
Thank you, alex. Old wishes are replaced with new wishes. Some wishes stay in your heart and linger. Others come true and the rest are tosseed in to the wind to make room for new ones. I'm glad to have had the chance to read your poem and i hope i can find more of your stuff in the future

on May. 23 2011 at 4:19 pm
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck

Thank you very much!

on May. 23 2011 at 4:18 pm
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck

Glad you enjoyed it!

on May. 23 2011 at 4:18 pm
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck

Never heard of it O: I'll have to go read it.

on May. 23 2011 at 4:17 pm
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck

Sorry to hear about your wishes. Maybe the next one will come true!

on May. 23 2011 at 4:17 pm
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck

Thank you much!

on May. 23 2011 at 4:16 pm
zandragrey GOLD, Newton, Massachusetts
13 articles 8 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. ~Erma Bombeck

Thank you very much!

alex198 said...
on May. 8 2011 at 8:06 am
alex198, |, Other
0 articles 0 photos 113 comments
I love this! It was really well written; short and simple, emphasising the shock and sadness of the piece. I really enjoyed it :)

on Apr. 20 2011 at 3:29 pm
itlovedtohappen GOLD, Ocala, Florida
10 articles 0 photos 32 comments
That was so good! I agree with RealRiot about the reminiscence of Sadako's story. However, it was a great little story and I read it twice :)

RealRiot said...
on Apr. 20 2011 at 2:50 am
RealRiot, Perth, Other
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
If A Girl Says She's Cold, Don't Just Say Me Too. ~Anonymous

Anyone who devotes time and attention to what makes people tick, to me, is a smart person.~Ron Silver

Hmm, although the story is beautiful I couldn't help but remeber the story Sadako and The One Thousand Paper Cranes. But that was the point? Yes, no?

Still, I loved it. Keep up the good work.


on Apr. 19 2011 at 1:14 pm
I love this! It made me think of the many wishes of mine that didn't come true

on Apr. 19 2011 at 12:25 pm
jmswriter1 SILVER, Champaign, Illinois
8 articles 0 photos 1 comment
This was very good! I enjoyed reading it. Keep going, it was very inspiring!:D

Debbie1 SILVER said...
on Apr. 18 2011 at 8:01 pm
Debbie1 SILVER, Brooklyn, New York
6 articles 0 photos 34 comments

Favorite Quote:
"As long as there is life, there is hope."

Wow! This was touching and well written. Great job!