Wheels whir loudly against the pavement as kids zip past on scooters. Annie grips her plastic blue shovel tight and steps backward into the shadow of a giant oak tree. The busy playground is incredibly noisy today. She watches the scrambling crowds, unsure of where to start playing.
Over in the sandbox, a boy pats a lopsided mound of sand until it crumbles into a messy heap. Annie takes a tiny start forward, hearing the soft scritch-scratch of his hands in the dry dirt. She wants to use her shovel in the sand right now. Instead, she bites her lip and stays carefully hidden behind the big wooden swings.
The boy tries again with a wet clump, but it drops heavily onto his shoe like a giant mud pancake. He lets out a loud huff and throws both hands up in the air. Annie giggles quietly from her hiding spot at the funny sound. She glances down at her sturdy blue shovel.
Annie marches directly up to the edge of the wooden sandbox. The loose grains crunch loudly under her sneakers as she stops beside him. She holds out her blue shovel and says, "I can help dig the moat." The boy looks up instantly and flashes a huge missing-tooth smile.
Scoop and pile, scoop and pile! They work together until an incredibly tall, smooth tower stands in the center of the box. Suddenly, a stray soccer ball bounces dangerously close, but Annie blocks it solidly with a loud thwack! Jay cheers, and they share an enthusiastic high-five, scattering damp sand all over their sleeves.
Annie and Jay sit side by side to admire their massive castle, now decorated with pointy pinecone flags. Warm afternoon sunlight shines over their muddy hands and tired arms. "What should we build next?" Jay asks excitedly. Annie boldly points her shovel toward the slide, ready to conquer the rest of the park.