When was the last time you saw a paperclip?You may have seen me the other day. I look different from most paperclips. I’m a little more colorful. And perhaps out-of-place.
Yes, you’re right! That’s me, sitting in the bowl of silver paperclips on your teacher’s desk.
Out of all the paperclips in the world, perhaps I’m the only yellow paperclip with bright purple spots. Do you know where I came from?
Before I was on your teacher’s desk, I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots on Mrs. David’s thank you note to your teacher. Your seatmate Paolo was having trouble with his spelling and your teacher gave him extra lessons after class. But do you know where I was before Mrs. David’s thank you note?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots holding the money Mr. David gave Mrs. David to buy bread, coffee, and a bag of jelly beans. After a long day at the office, he gave her the money and a big kiss and hug. But do you know where I was before Mr. David’s money?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots in an office with big glass windows, holding together a stack of reports from Mr. David’s boss, the Vice President of a large food company. But do you know where I was before Mr. David’s office?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots holding on to three photographs from the Vice President’s daughter, Gem. She gave him three photos from a recent trip to Norway: one picture of the mountains, the other of her favorite café, the third of a park she visited on her last day. But where was I before Gem’s photographs?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots sitting alone on a park bench in Norway. After a cold evening on a lonely bench, I was happy when Gem picked me up and clipped me to her photographs. But where was I before the park bench?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots on the tail of a paper airplane. Viktor, a little boy with big blue eyes and freckles across his nose, flew his paper airplane in his room, at the playground, and at the park. But where was I before Viktor’s paper airplane?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots on page 26 of a prayer book that belonged to Julia, Viktor’s older sister. The Book of Prayers was a gift from her grandma, reminding Julia to pray every night before bedtime. But where was I before page 26?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots in Julia’s grandmother’s silver hair. I kept Grandma Remy’s apple-shampooed hair in place when she baked cookies, read magazines, or napped in her rocking chair. But where was I before Grandma Remy’s shiny silver hair?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots holding Grandpa Neil’s newspaper clippings about cancer, its possible causes, research for cures, and stories of survivors. But where was I before Grandpa Neil’s newspaper clippings?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots, alone and lost on a sidewalk, watching people cross the street, sell newspapers, and hop on the bus. I was happy when Grandpa Neil picked me up on his way to the hospital. But where was I before the sidewalk?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots who traveled the world with Clarisse, a flight attendant who flew from Manila to Australia, to China, to Norway, to Egypt, and back to Manila again. I traveled with Clarisse’s passport where I kept her tickets and receipts until she lost me on a Norwegian sidewalk. But where was I before Clarisse’s passport?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots hanging from the neck of Becca, Clarisse’s favorite neice. I was the most colorful in Becca’s chain of paperclips. When Clarisse needed a paperclip, Becca gladly gave me to her favorite aunt. But where was I before Becca’s paperclip collection?
I was the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots sitting in a bowl of silver paperclips on a desk. One day, I heard a little girl ask, “Teacher, teacher, can I have this yellow paperclip with bright purple spots for my collection?”
It was Becca. She started my great adventure around the world. No wonder this bowl of silver paperclips looks familiar.
I am the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots who made your teacher smile with a thank you note. I shared money, worked in a big office, captured happy memories, slept on a park bench, and flew high on a paper airplane. I listened to prayers, smelled apple-shampooed hair, spent lonely nights alone on a sidewalk, and learned about cancer. I traveled around the world and was part of a special collection.
I am the yellow paperclip with bright purple spots linking you with your teacher, Mrs. David, Mr. David, the Vice President, Gem, Viktor, Julia, Grandma Remy, Grandpa Neil, Clarisse, Becca, and all the way back to your teacher again. I’ve met many interesting people, learned new things, and traveled to different places. Now I know why I feel different and more colorful in a bowl of silver paperclips.
The next time you need a paperclip, I hope you choose me—the strange, out-of-place yellow paperclip with bright purple spots.
I’m excited to start my next great adventure. Where will you take me?
