Mayla spread her fidget toys on the playground mat. A galaxy ball, a clicking cube, a ribbon worm, and a rainbow spinner.
Mayla opened her fidget toy box. Inside sat a galaxy ball, a clicking cube, a ribbon worm, and a rainbow spinner.
Juno gasped. She reached for the rainbow spinner, spun it fast, and it hummed like a tiny airplane. Trade you?
Leo tapped her shoulder and held up his squishy elephant eraser. Mayla swapped the rainbow spinner for it without thinking.
Juno watched from the slide. Her jaw tightened. When Mayla ran over, Juno whispered, You gave away my spinner!
Juno stomped toward the swings. Mayla chased after her, the squishy elephant eraser bumping against her hip the whole way.
At lunch, Mayla sat alone at the picnic table. Her fidget toy box felt heavy in her lap. She traced the smooth edge of nothing.
Mayla watched Juno's lonely shoulders under the oak tree. Her fingers curled into fists around the clicking cube. She stood up.
Mayla walked all the way to the oak tree. She set her fidget toy box in Juno's lap, and the lid popped open.
The galaxy ball, ribbon worm, and clicking cube rolled onto the grass. Mayla whispered, I'm sorry. Juno looked at the box, then at Mayla.
Juno let out a small hmph. She picked up the galaxy ball and rolled it toward Mayla instead of pushing it away.
Under the oak tree, the two girls sat side by side trading toys back and forth. The blue spinner wobbled happily on the grass.