Corkie Brings an Idea

Corkie is a bright blue jay with a pointy crest and a white chest, and Corkie is full of ideas. Ideas pop out of Corkie the way seeds pop out of a dandelion.

But one recess, Corkie had a problem, not an idea.

Four friends were playing four-square on the painted squares near the fence. Bounce, bounce, slap! The ball zipped from square to square. There were exactly four squares, and there were exactly four players.

Corkie hopped closer. “Can I play?” Corkie asked.

“Sorry,” said one of the players. “There are only four squares. It’s full.”

Corkie’s crest drooped. A sad, left-out feeling fluttered in Corkie’s chest, like a bird stuck in a box. Corkie hopped back to the fence and watched.

Bounce, bounce, slap.

Bounce, bounce, slap.

Corkie watched for a long time. And while watching, Corkie noticed something. Every few turns, the players started arguing.

“That was IN!”

“No, it was OUT!”

“Who’s winning?”

“I don’t know, I forgot!”

Corkie’s crest went straight up. An idea had popped.

Corkie hopped back to the court. “Hey! I noticed you keep forgetting the score, and arguing about in and out. What if I stand right here and be the line-judge? I’ll watch every bounce, and I’ll keep the score!”

The four players looked at each other.

“That would actually be really helpful,” said one.

“Yes, please!” said another.

So Corkie stood by the line and watched every bounce like a hawk, well, like a jay. “In! Out! In! That’s five points to Waverly!” Nobody argued anymore. The game got better.

And when one of the players had to go to the water fountain, guess who they asked to take their square?

“Corkie, do you want my turn?”

Corkie’s whole body fluffed up with a warm, proud, included feeling. “Yes, I do!”

That is Corkie’s trick. When a game is full, Corkie doesn’t just ask, “Can I play?” Corkie looks for something the game needs, and brings an idea. Can I keep score? Can I be the judge? Can I add a new rule? Bringing an idea doesn’t always work. But very often, a good idea opens a door.