Progressive 18
The Purple Mug
Hanna’s purple mug was very special. It had her name in gold on the side and tiny painted stars. It was a gift from her favorite teacher, Mrs. Langley, for being curious and kind. Hanna loved it more than anything.
Because it was so special, there was one rule: no one else could use it.
One Sunday morning, Hanna found her older brother, Jake, pouring hot chocolate into her purple mug.
“Jake!” she shouted, snatching it from his hands.
“It’s just a mug,” Jake said.
“It’s not just a mug,” Hanna said. “It’s mine. Use another one.”
Jake rolled his eyes and chose a plain white mug. Hanna rinsed her purple mug carefully and put it back on its special shelf.
Later that week, Aunt Marie came for tea. She reached for the purple mug.
“No!” Hanna cried, taking it away.
“It’s from my teacher,” Hanna explained. “She gave it to me because I’m curious and kind.”
Aunt Marie smiled. “I see. You really care about it.”
Even her dad used it once. Hanna walked into the living room and froze.
“Dad!” she yelled. “You can’t use that mug!”
“It was the only clean one,” Dad said.
“Then wash another one!” Hanna said, taking it back to the kitchen.
Her mom stepped in. “Hanna, it’s just a mug. Maybe it’s okay to share sometimes.”
Hanna frowned. “But what if it breaks?”
“Then you’ll still have the memory,” Mom said. “And memories don’t break.”
The next day, Hanna’s best friend Chloe came over. She reached for the purple mug.
Hanna hesitated but then said, “Okay. Just be careful.”
Chloe grinned. “I promise.”
They sat together, drinking tea and laughing. Hanna realized that sharing the mug didn’t make it less special. If anything, it made the moments with the people she loved even better.
From then on, Hanna still kept the purple mug on its special shelf. But sometimes, she let someone she trusted borrow it. The mug reminded her of the memories she made with the people she cared about.
One evening, after everyone had gone home, Hanna rinsed the mug and placed it back on the shelf. It was still her favorite thing. But now it reminded her of something else too—that some things are even better when shared.
Comprehension Questions
Why was Hanna’s purple mug special?
Who tried to use the mug first?
What advice did Hanna’s mom give her about the mug?
How did Hanna feel when Chloe used the mug?
What lesson did Hanna learn about sharing her mug?
Your Thoughts
Do you have a special item that you don’t want to share? Why?
Why do you think Hanna changed her mind about letting Chloe use the mug?
How can sharing something special make memories even better?
