Agnes and the Red Ribbon

Agnes and Duncan pack the costumes after a play. A long red ribbon lies across the table.

Agnes puts the ribbon in a box. When she lifts it out, a knot catches in the middle.

She pulls both ends, but the knot gets tight. “That is not helping,” she says to Duncan.

Duncan lays the ribbon flat on the blue cloth. Now they can see where the two sides cross.

Agnes gently pushes one loop back through the knot. Duncan holds the rest of the ribbon still.

The loop comes loose. Agnes pulls the end through, and the long ribbon lies flat again.

Duncan rolls the ribbon around his fingers. Agnes puts the neat roll in a small cloth bag.

They place the bag beside the costumes. Next time, the red ribbon will be easy to take out.