Once there was a triangle that was as most triangles are always ADJECTIVE .
The triangle spent its time holding up roofs, supporting bridges,
making music in a symphony orchestra, catching the wind for sailboats,
being slices of pie and halves of sandwiches, and much more.
The triangle's favorite thing, however, was to slip into place when people put their hands on their . "That way I always hear the latest news." it said, "which I can tell my friends."
One day, the triangle began to feel dissatisfied. "I'm tired of doing the same old things," it grumbled. "There must be more to life." So triangle went to see the local shapeshifter.
'How may I help you?" the shapeshifter asked the triangle.
"I think if I had just one more side and one more angle," d the triangle, "my life would be more interesting
"That's easy to do," said the shapeshifter.
Life changed wonderfully. The quadrilateral was happy with all the new things it could do.
The quadrilateral could be a baseball diamond or first, second, or third base.
It could take a position on a checkerboard or a chessboard.
It could be a television screen, a computer screen, or a movie screen.
It could frame windows or frame pictures, and much, much more.
The quadrilateral's favorite thing, however, was to be the pages of a book. "I learn so many interesting stories that way," it said, "which I can tell my friends."
But one day, the quadrilateral began to feel dissatisfied. *I'm tired of doing the same old things," it grumbled. "There must be more to life." So the quadrilateral went back to the shapeshifter.
"How may I help you now?" the shapeshifter asked the quadrilateral.
*I think if I had just one more side and one more angle, said the quadrilateral, "my life would be more interesting:
"That's easy to do," said the shapeshifter.
Life changed wonderfully. The pentagon was happy with all the new things it could da
On a baseball diamond. the pentagon could be home plate.
It could be a section on a soccer bai or appear inside whenever someone drew a five-pointed star
The pentagon's favorite thing, however, was to be the heädquarters of the United States military near Washington, D.C. * hear all the top secrets that war is said. Tth too bad I can't tell chem to my friends
The pentagon's friends couldnt help feeling left our
After a while, time seemed to pass slowly for the pentagon and it became dissatisfied. "I'm tired of doing the same old things," it grumbled. "There must be more to life." So the pentagon went back to the shapeshifter,
"So, you're here again." the shapeshifter said to the pentagon.
Now, what would you like?
"I chink if I had just one more side and one more angle." said the pentagon, "my life would be more interesting"
"That's easy to do, said the shapeshifter.
Poof. The shapeshifter turned the pentagon into a hexagon
Life changed again in a wonderful way. The hexagon was happy with all the new things it could do.
The hexagon fit in as floor tiles in houses and patios and fancy crackers at parties and picnics.
It worked as the socket of specific bolts and the prongs of sure wrenches.
The hexagon's favorite thing, however, was to be a cell in a beehive.
"1 love watching the bees as they buzz in and out," it said. The hexagon spent so much time in the beehive, it was too busy to talk to its friends.
The friends missed the hexagon and couldn't help feeling ignored.
Again and again, the shape became restless, dissatisfied, and unhappy with its life. Again and again, it returned to the shapeshifter for more sides and more angles. The shapeshifter agreed to turn it into one shape after another.
A heptagon, an octagon, a nonazon, a decagon,
and on and on.
Finally, the shape had many, many sides and many, many angles. Its sides were so small that it had trouble keeping its balance. les friends couldn't tell which side it was on and began to avoid the shape.
One day, when the shape was going down a hill, it began to roil. Faster and faster it went, screeching around corners, crashing into fences and trees, colliding with bicydes, and terrifying walkers
At last, the shape came to a stop. It felt tired and diary lonely and sad
"Enough," thought the shape. "I don't know which side is up. I can't keep my balance. My friends don't want me around." The shape could no longer remember why it had been so unhappy as a triangle. Very carefully, it made its way back to the shapeshifter.
"Aren't you happy yet!" the shapeshifter asked.
*I want to be a triangle again," said the shape.
"I'm not surprised.," said the shapeshifter.
Poof The shapeshifter turned the shape back into a triangle
The triangle was delighted to have its old shape back again and kept itself very busy.
Once again, it held up roofs.
supported bridges.
made music in a symphony orchestra, caught the wind for sailboats,
became slices of pie and halves of sandwiches, and much, much more.
Still, the triangle's favorite thing was to slip into place when people put their hands on their hips. "That way I always hear the latest news." it said, "which I can tell my friends
its friends liked hearing the news and were glad the triangle was back in shape.
