The Invisible World

George jumps down the front steps, two at a time. Monday morning, time for school.

The air is crisp and smells like autumn.

What wonderful, delightful things will he see today?

Just around the corner, he meets …

A GIANT!

Mr. Goldwin hurries past. A tall office building sits on his shoulders – with windows, antennas, and fast whirly doors. Two phones hang where his ears should be, ringing and ringing. Above him, high up in the air – a dark, scary cloud.

George calls out: ‘It's sunny this morning, Mr. Goldwin! No chance of rain!’

Mr. Goldwin looks up at the blue sky and his frown slips away.

The cloud slowly drifts and the phones grow quiet. Suddenly, they could both hear the birds singing.

Mr. Goldwin waves and continues walking, a bit slower this time.

George squints. Is it just him or did the building shrink a few floors?

Swinging around the lamppost, George spies someone ahead…

AN ACROBAT!

Ms. Swift walks along a tightrope. George watches as a mirror, a briefcase, a lunch box, a stroller, and a piggy bank spin in a perfect circle above her head.

Oh no… Ms. Swift wobbles.

He holds his breath—will she fall?

‘Let me help you,’ says George, reaching up to straighten the crown on her head.

‘Thank you, dear. I almost lost my balance.’ She gently ruffles his hair.

Her crown shines bright, like tinsel stars.

Ms. Swift walks on, chin up and smiling.

George lifts his eyebrows. Did the tightrope get wider?

Cars hum past like beads on a string. And right there, at the intersection, waiting to cross, George spots…

A WIZARD!

Mr. Leonard has wild, tangled eyebrows. Sometimes they make people nervous—because they can't see his clear, kind eyes beneath them.

His deep pockets are always filled with magical stories, one for each year he's lived—hundreds and hundreds of them.

Today Mr. Leonard is wearing his invisibility cloak and he's having trouble crossing the street. Everybody bumps into him!

‘Give me your hand,’ says George, and he helps him to the other side.

Mr. Leonard pats George’s shoulder.

‘You're a kind boy.’

When they say goodbye, bright colors flood his dusty robes. Somehow, they've lost the invisibility cloak.

The glorious smile on Mr. Leonard's face tells George he doesn't mind one bit.

The street is buzzing with children, swarming around like a hive of bees.

George can’t believe his eyes…

A MAGICIAN!

Miss Sophie rolls her magical cart along the pavement. Wherever she goes, a crowd gathers, asking for tricks.

And Miss Sophie never says no. She slips lucky charms into their pockets and makes paper planes fly up to the moon.

The children clap and always want more.

But today her cart is empty. She’s all out of magic.

‘Let’s walk together, Miss Sophie,’ says George, putting his hands on the handle.

The cart rolls on.

She gives him a hug, cheeks blooming like roses.

At the front gate, George notices a round bunny nose twitching from under her hat. A trail of confetti follows her steps.

The bell rings!

His teacher, Ms. Lili, greets everyone at the door. Above her head swirls a galaxy of papers, notebooks, and dancing numbers. When she speaks, her voice sounds like honey.

George carefully looks around. Everybody carries an invisible world!

He tugs his backpack into place.

Monday morning.

Time for school.