Ana stepped into the Kingdom of Rules. Everyone marched in straight lines. No one smiled. A tall sign read: STRAIGHT LINES ONLY — NO SKIPPING.
Ana kicked at a pebble. It rolled. And rolled. Straight into someone's foot.
A tall Enforcer with a clipboard marched up. 'Skipping is against Rule Number Four Hundred and Fifty,' he said.
Ana stared at her scuffed red shoes. She looked at the long gray line. She looked back at the Enforcer.
Ana stepped off the line and skipped. One skip. Two skips. Three skips.
Behind Ana, a boy in blue wiggled his toes. A girl in yellow lifted one foot off the ground.
The Enforcer blocked her path. 'You must stop!' he shouted. Ana tilted her head. 'Why?' she asked.
The Enforcer opened his mouth. He closed it. He looked at his clipboard. Nobody moved.
From the castle tower, the ruler leaned over and watched. He hopped down the spiral stairs — one step, two steps, three — and burst into the square.
'What is this skipping trick?' he demanded. Ana held out her hand. 'Try it.'
The Ruler tried. One hop. Two hops. Then he couldn't stop.
Everyone started skipping. Even the Enforcer. Especially the Enforcer.