Lumi raced across the sunny playground with her new jump-rope trick ready. Her best friend was already skipping with a new friend.
Lumi stopped short. The rope swished past her knees. “Oh.”
Lumi grabbed a second rope and skipped beside them, faster and faster. The ropes tangled into one wiggly knot.
Lumi stomped away. Squeak, squeak went her sneakers across the blacktop.
Lumi tossed a bright ball against the school wall. It bounced back, bumped her shoe, and rolled beneath a bench.
Lumi knelt to reach the ball. Under the bench, she found a lost friendship bracelet with a tiny wooden star.
Lumi carried the bracelet back. The new friend tripped over the rope and dropped the game cards into a puddle.
Lumi helped pick up the cards. “I’m sorry I pushed past you. Can we play together?”
The three girls made one giant skipping circle. The rope swooped over their heads, and the cards stayed dry.
Lumi laughed when the school bell rang. The rope flew up and landed on the teacher’s hat.