The Paper Crown Parade

Starring Aspen

Aspen hides a bent paper crown she accidentally sat on, distracting her best friend Mason with knock-knock jokes until she finds the courage to hand it back with an apology.

Aspen shoved the wrinkled paper crown deep into the wooden toy chest and slammed the jam-sticky lid down. Mason stood by the sofa, holding out empty hands and asking about the parade hat. Aspen squeezed her eyes shut and offered a tower of wooden blocks instead.

Knock knock, Aspen squeaked, her voice trembling slightly while she stared at the patterned rug. Who is there? Mason asked, tilting her blonde pigtails to the side. Banana, Aspen blurted out, her shoulders hunched as she avoided Mason's gaze.

Banana who? Mason giggled, reaching out to touch Aspen's sleeve. Banana split right down the middle, Aspen muttered, her fingers tracing the rough edge of a painted wooden block. The secret sat heavy in her pocket like a cold stone.

Cleanup time arrived with the chime of the kitchen clock. Mason began gathering the scattered blocks into the plastic bin. Aspen kept her back turned to the toy chest, her red sneakers scuffing the floor as she chewed her bottom lip.

The living room parade was about to begin after lunch. Mason looked around the room, patting her empty head where the parade hat should rest. Aspen bit her tongue, feeling the jam-sticky weight of her deceit prickle her fingers.

Aspen took a deep breath and marched back to the wooden toy chest. She lifted the heavy lid with both arms and reached inside. Her fingers brushed against the hidden yellow paper with its unmistakable crease.

She pulled out the wrinkly crown and held it out with a shaky apology. I sat on it, Aspen whispered, her hands trembling as she offered the bent cardboard points to her friend. Mason blinked down at the damaged yellow band.

Mason pressed the wrinkly crown onto her blonde pigtails with a soft grin. The parade started with two stomping feet on the rug and wooden blocks clacking in time.