The Precious Crane
Alessandra Faith Ansbach (Lynbrook High School)
In the year it seemed a life would come crashing to an end, I was acquainted with the ancient Japanese
art of origami. My sister, Nina, was in the hospital, suffering from seizures that medicine wasn’t adequately
controlling. New medicines were being tried. Mom had to be with her through this painful process. I was at
home, 29.3 miles away yearning for both of them. I remember being so scared it was all I could do to show
that I was strong for my Dad and Nana.

Knowing that I would either burst into screams or sobs I had to find something to ease my mind. I
took out an old origami book my mom had presented to me as a surprise one day. I never really considered
origami, because I couldn’t fold the special papers correctly at the time. I began to separate all the paper
that came inside the book; along with the paper mom had bought me. My bed was covered in different size
papers. The papers surrounded me on my bed, some folded and some not. I cautiously chose one of the
multicolored sheets and began to fold. I ended up with a very uneven crane. I looked down at it, disgusted
and threw it at the door. I folded again and again until finally I came up with a beautiful bird perched in my
hands. Delighted with what I had accomplished, I started to create more and more until I had a whole chain
of cranes. I looked through the rest of the book and made almost all of the designs that were depicted. I was
delighted with my work.

My father appeared then and told me it was time to visit my sister and mom. I gathered up all of my
creations and put them in a bag. When we arrived at my sister’s room I walked slowly inside, afraid of what
I would see. My sister was sitting up in bed watching television and mom was sitting in the chair eating
lunch. My mom burst into tears when she spotted me. I ran over and gave her a huge hug. I said not to cry
and that I had presents. I emptied the entire contents of my sack onto Nina’s bed. Each of them picked up a
crane and asked what it was. I demonstrated by picking one up and teaching them how to move its wings.

Mom could barely form words she was so astonished. She asked me if I had made them all and I
could only nod. She hugged me and said that I was amazing. All of a sudden the waterfalls broke free and I
hid my face in her shirt. “Please mommy, come home tonight.”
“I would if I could, Sweetheart; but I have to stay here and make sure Nina’s okay. I promise you, I
will sleep with a crane next to me every night and think of you every day.” As I pulled away from her
embrace I saw there were tears streaking her face too. I gave her a final squeeze and gave my sister one too.

Then, dad took my hand and led me out of the room. I stole a final glance back and saw Nina admiring the
baby blue crane I had made especially for her. I left the hospital with a smile on my face knowing I had
made her happy.

A month later my sister came home happy and lively again. The first thing she said when she walked
in the room was “Look! I still have my crane!” She opened her hand and handed me the precious blue
crane. It was a little worn from all the times she had made it fly. She also handed me a bunch of cards from
the kids at the hospital thanking me for the gifts of cranes and animals.

The crane is truly a sacred bird in Japan and in my eyes. The Japanese believe by folding a thousand
cranes a wish will be granted.

My wish came true without folding a thousand. Sharing my love of origami with my sister and the
hospitalized children made many wishes come true, for a lot of those children went home shortly after
receiving the crane.

I continue to this day in sharing my love of origami with the people around me. I give the gift of a
crane and the tale of its legend knowing that wishes do come true.

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