The playground stretched wide and bright. Arjun couldn't wait to start.
Arjun zoomed past the slide. His sneakers slapped the rubber mat — slap, slap, slap!
He darted through the tunnel and popped out the other side. Nothing could slow him down.
A small rock caught his toe. Arjun tumbled onto the soft rubber mat.
His knee stung red and hot. He tried to stand, but his leg wobbled.
He took one step. Ouch. Another step. Ouch again.
His lip trembled just a little. He kept walking. Ouch.
Arjun dropped to his knees and covered his face.
"I hurt my knee," he whispered.
His friends gathered around him. Hands on his back, voices soft.
Someone pressed a cool bandage onto his knee. Arjun breathed out.
He let himself lean into their arms.