Jeff Brown's Flat Stanley: The Flying Chinese Wonders. Josh Greenhut

      Once everyone was seated, Stanley took his place. He hung with his lower body rolled around a bar high over the crowd.

      It’s not fair! he thought. Why do I have to save the day any time somebody needs something flat or flexible?

      On the one hand, Stanley’s new shape allowed him to do lots of fun and exciting things, like fit between the walls of an Egyptian pyramid and be a cape in a Mexican bullfight. On the other hand, he was often asked to do uncomfortable, humiliating, and boring things that would never be expected of a rounded person. For instance, he was rolled and tied to the back of a horse in South Dakota and forced to ride with baggage in the cargo hold of an airplane to Africa.

      Stanley didn’t want to hang high in the air holding a heavy flashlight. He didn’t even know what to expect onstage. The performers had arrived only moments before the show was about to begin.

      The lights went down. With a sigh, Stanley lifted his flashlight and flicked it on as the curtains squeaked open.

      In the centre of the bare stage stood a teenage boy and girl. They wore matching red outfits. ‘Lucky people of America!’ A Chinese man in a tuxedo stepped on to the stage. ‘All the way from the People’s Republic of China, we bring to you . . . the Flying Chinese Wonders!’

      A few people clapped as Stanley moved his spotlight back and forth between the two performers. They bowed slowly.

      This is going to be even worse than I thought, figured Stanley.

      Then, in a flash, the boy and girl shot into the air. Flipping high over the stage, they grabbed hands and flattened their bodies, spinning around each other like a sputtering propeller headed straight for the ground. Stanley held his breath as the human propeller spun faster and faster, its descent slowing until finally it hovered a few feet off the ground. They planted their feet and faced the audience with their arms raised in the air. The entire auditorium erupted with applause.

      Stanley couldn’t believe it! The Flying Chinese Wonders were amazing!

      They swooped and sailed through the air. They twisted and flipped and spun like tops. Together, they became a dragon, a comet, and a fish on a trampoline. Sometimes, Stanley couldn’t tell where the first Wonder began and the other ended.

      Their bodies can do anything! Stanley thought. His flashlight raced to keep up.

      For their grand finale, the Flying Chinese Wonders connected head to toe, puffed out their chests to form a circle, and rolled around the stage. When they came to a stop, each held out an arm and a leg. The giant circle had become the sun.

      It was the greatest thing Stanley had ever seen! He shouted, whooped, and clapped his –

      Stanley’s heart plummeted as he watched the giant flashlight drop from his hands.

       CRAAASH!

      The Flying Chinese Wonders looked up in alarm. Their circle shook . . . and collapsed to the floor in a heap.