The Backwards Day

by Benny Laughton

A wish for fun, a day in reverse, and a lesson learned.

Grade 3: Fluent readers10 pages

A child wishes everything could be backwards, then wakes up to a day where everything happens in reverse

Characters

Jada

Mom

Dad

+1 more

Style

Bold Cartoon

Story

Story Arc

Jada kicked at her blanket, a sigh escaping her lips. Another morning, another routine. Brush teeth, eat oatmeal, pack backpack. “I wish everything could be backwards!” she muttered, imagining silly scenes. She wished for a day where breakfast came last and bedtime first, just for a change.

The next morning, Jada blinked awake to a strange feeling. The sun was setting, not rising, outside her window. A sweet smell wafted from the kitchen, usually reserved for special occasions. Jada padded downstairs, a wrinkle appearing between her brows.

“Good evening, sweetheart!” Mom sang, placing a plate before Jada. On it sat a giant slice of chocolate cake, thick with frosting. Dad sat at the kitchen table, already halfway through his own slice, a faint smirk playing on his lips. Jada’s eyes widened, then gleamed.

Cake for breakfast! This was the backwards day she had dreamed of. Jada quickly finished her treat, then pulled on her clothes inside out before grabbing her backpack. “Off to school!” she called, bouncing with unusual energy. The world outside seemed to ripple with a playful, upside-down logic.

At school, things felt just as topsy-turvy. Recess came first, filling the playground with boisterous laughter before anyone had even opened a book. Then, lessons started with the very last chapter, making no sense at all. Ms. Lily tried to guide the class, but her usual calm seemed to fray at the edges.

Lunch was a medley of potato chips and candy bars, a rainbow of sugary snacks. Jada ate quickly, her stomach already feeling a peculiar twist. Later, during history, the timeline of events was completely jumbled, leaving everyone scratching their heads. The fun was slowly melting away.

When Jada got home, the smell of her favorite dinner, pepperoni pizza, filled the air. Mom and Dad were already at the table, eagerly pulling apart slices. But Jada’s stomach, full of cake and chips, just gave a faint rumble of complaint. She couldn’t bring herself to eat.

A wave of disappointment washed over Jada. The best part of her day, pizza night, was ruined. She pushed her plate away gently, a quiet sigh escaping. Mom caught Dad’s eye across the table, a shared understanding passing between them. The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

“This backwards day isn’t as fun as I thought,” Jada admitted softly, looking at her parents. “I miss feeling hungry for pizza. I miss knowing what’s next.” Mom nodded, reaching over to gently squeeze Jada’s hand, a comforting gesture. Dad offered a sympathetic smile, understanding her disappointment.

The next morning, Jada woke to the soft, familiar glow of sunrise. She smelled oatmeal, heard the quiet clinking of dishes. She smiled, hopping out of bed. Brushing her teeth, eating breakfast, packing her bag – each step felt just right. Some things were best in their proper order after all.

The end

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Words to know

routine: The usual way of doing things, like brushing your teeth every morning.; Another morning, another routine.
muttered: To say something in a low, quiet voice, often because you are unhappy or don't want others to hear.; “I wish everything could be backwards!” she muttered, imagining silly scenes.
wafted: When a smell or something light moves gently through the air.; A sweet smell wafted from the kitchen, usually reserved for special occasions.
appearing: Starting to be seen or to be noticed.; A wrinkle appearing between her brows.
reserved: Something that is kept or set aside for a particular person or time.; A sweet smell wafted from the kitchen, usually reserved for special occasions.
gleamed: Shone brightly, often with happiness or excitement.; Jada’s eyes widened, then gleamed.
bouncing: Jumping up and down in a lively way.; “Off to school!” she called, bouncing with unusual energy.
ripple: To move with small waves, like when you drop a pebble in water.; The world outside seemed to ripple with a playful, upside-down logic.
topsy-turvy: In a state of confusion or disorder; upside down.; At school, things felt just as topsy-turvy.
boisterous: Noisy and energetic.; Recess came first, filling the playground with boisterous laughter before anyone had even opened a book.
fray: To become worn out or damaged, like the edges of cloth getting thin.; Ms. Lily tried to guide the class, but her usual calm seemed to fray at the edges.
medley: A mixture or an assortment of different things.; Lunch was a medley of potato chips and candy bars, a rainbow of sugary snacks.
peculiar: Strange or unusual.; Jada ate quickly, her stomach already feeling a peculiar twist.
jumbled: Mixed up in a confused way.; Later, during history, the timeline of events was completely jumbled, leaving everyone scratching their heads.
rumble: A deep, continuous sound, like the sound your stomach makes when you are hungry.; But Jada’s stomach, full of cake and chips, just gave a faint rumble of complaint.
washed: Spread over someone, like a feeling that covers you.; A wave of disappointment washed over Jada.
understanding: Knowing or realizing how someone feels.; Mom caught Dad’s eye across the table, a shared understanding passing between them.
unspoken: Not said out loud.; The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
comforting: Making someone feel better or less worried.; Mom nodded, reaching over to gently squeeze Jada’s hand, a comforting gesture.
sympathetic: Showing that you understand and care about someone's bad feelings.; Dad offered a sympathetic smile, understanding her disappointment.
proper: The correct or right way.; Some things were best in their proper order after all.