Mateo stood in the middle of the street, holding his bright yellow kite. A strong gust caught it and yanked it skyward.
The kite looped, dipped, and got tangled high in the oak. Mateo tugged and tugged, but the string wouldn't budge.
Mateo sat down with a heavy sigh. Then he heard the click-click of wheels on pavement.
A boy on a red tricycle rolled to a stop. His basket was full of smooth gray rocks. He looked at the tree, then at Mateo.
Mateo pointed at the tree and mimed pulling. The new boy nodded, hopped off his trike, and marched toward the oak.
He climbed onto a low branch and reached up, but the kite wouldn't move. Mateo grabbed the other end of the string and pulled too. On the third tug, the kite slipped free and landed in the boy's arms.
The kite slipped free and fluttered down into the boy's arms. They both froze, then grinned at each other.
Mateo held out the string. The boy grabbed it with both hands, and they ran — Mateo on the left, his new friend on the right. The kite lifted into the sky, zigzagging above the rooftops.
The kite danced between them, dipping low near the fence and climbing toward the mailbox. It was playing.
The kite settled onto the grass near a puddle. The boy pulled a smooth blue marble from his pocket. Mateo reached into his own pocket and pulled out a red feather. They held them out — and exchanged.