The Unicorn in Captivity
The bell chirped and in an instant, all the kindergarteners poured out of their classrooms and filled in all the spaces in the play area imaginable. However, Katy did not like to play with the other kids. All the boys would play war and act out scenes of movies she did not like. All the girls were mean to her, because in order for them to like her, she had to like the same things they do. She liked flowers, bugs, and animals; and the girls liked dolls, jewelry, and television shows about teenage girls.
Instead of playing with the kids, she would go to the garden every play time, because in that garden, she could do whatever she wanted without being called a “weirdo.” She would spin around, feeling tall while her hands would stick out in the air, her fingers spread to blend with air. She would let ladybugs climb her hands, and laughed as their tiny legs tickled her all around. She would jump, dance, and pick up dandelions to make necklaces out of them. She would talk to the plants and trees, as they were able to listen without objecting. The garden was a place of joy and freedom.
One day, she was going to say hi to the fig tree when suddenly, she saw a peculiar creature strapped onto it. It was tied with a yellow belt embellished with a blue swirl design. “Unicorn!” she cried out. She jumped past the wooden fence she was afraid to jump past for two reasons. 1: because the fence had tiny chips and pieces sticking out, causing a risk of painful splinters; and 2: because Mrs. Leory prohibited access beyond that fence, and if she jumped the fence, she might get herself into trouble. But this was an emergency. The unicorn was part horse, part donkey, and part goat. Its fur was a silvery, radiant white like a goat. It had a goatee like a goat. But it also had a body and a tail like a horse, and a donkey’s head. “Whoa!” Katy exclaimed at this wonderful sight. Even though the unicorn was tied to the fig tree, there was a serene expression in its face. But when she was about to hug the unicorn, she noticed that it was bleeding. She saw that it had four bite marks, maybe more. One was on the neck, one near the front left leg, one on its back, and one behind the back left leg. “Oh no! Are you okay?” she asked the unicorn. “Let me get you a band aid.” She ran as fast as the wind, and she bumped into Ms. Leory. “Ms. Leory,” she says, “can I get a first aid kit?” “Uh oh, did someone get hurt?” Ms. Leory asks. “Yeah. My friend is hurt.” says Katy. “Let me help your friend. Then I will give you a gold star for asking for help when someone else needed it.” So Katy led Ms. Leory to the fig tree at the garden. But when they arrived to their destination, Ms. Leory asks “where is your friend?” “Uh oh. I think the unicorn ran away.” Ms. Leory thought it was just a work of Katy's imagination. But then she noticed the belt on the floor. “Katie, is that your belt?” “No.” said Katie. “Whose belt is this?” “I don’t know.” Ms. Leory thought for a while. “Okay. I’ll throw away the belt since it’s not yours.” “No! Don’t throw it away!” said Katy. “Did you jump over that fence Katy?” Ms. Leory asked. “Yes,” Katy said. Ms. Leory hesitated. “Okay, I will give the belt back to you. But promise me you won’t jump over the fence again, okay?” “Okay,” said Katy. The bell rang again, and all the kids ran back into their classrooms.
“O.K. class, we are going to have some fun! We are going to make a painting!” said Ms. Leory, and all of a sudden, the quiet classroom turned rambunctious as the kids ran to get their paint and brushes. Katie knew exactly what to paint. Eventually, she finished painting the unicorn as she remembered it. Then, a boy named Andrew Dale saw her painting. “Cool!” he exclaimed. Katie asked “Do you like my painting?” He nodded in agreement. “Want to put your initials on my fig tree?” “Yeah.” So he painted the initials “A D” on the fig tree.
The next day, Ms. Leory handed back the painting with a gold star and a bite-sized chocolate candy on it. Now, she plays with Andy, and she has never seen a unicorn since.
