After school both Maggie and Mark hurried to the flagpole, excited about their next lesson.
"Right on time," called Mr. Jeffries. "Now you need to lower the flag. When you raised the flag you did it quickly. When you lower the flag you do it slowly. What else do you need to remember?"
"Don't let it touch the ground!" both Maggie and Mark said together and then laughed with Mr. Jeffries. They slowly lowered the flag. Mark held the flag while Maggie un-snapped it from the rope.
Then Mr. Jeffries said, "Each of you hold two corners of an end and spread the flag out lengthwise. Now fold the flag lengthwise with the red and white stripes on top of the blue field of stars. Now do this again. See how the blue is on top again?"
"That was cool," added Mark.
"Now you are ready to make a three-cornered hat," smiled Mr. Jeffries. "Maggie, you hold the blue end of the flag. Mark will fold the flag toward you. Mark, keep the flag pulled tight toward you, then fold one corner of the edge across to make a triangle."
"Oh! Now I see what to do," said Mark. "I just keep folding triangles until I get to Maggie."
"That's right," said Mr. Jeffries. The flag was folded and it was ready for the next day.
Mr. Jeffries said, "Maggie and Mark, you both did a great job. I know you will be great flag monitors." Maggie and Mark walked out of his office holding their heads high and flashed each other big grins. Mr. Jeffries knew he was right!
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Special thanks to Maya, 9, of Webster Elementary for her illustration. Today is Flag Day. latimes.com/kids; kidsreadingroom@latimes.com
