Mateo kicked an acorn across the square. *Bonk.* It bounced against the old oak root.
He looked up. The village elder was lowering herself onto the stone bench.
She told a tale about a fox who traded his tail for bread. Mateo's friend tapped her fingers. *Tap-tap-tap.*
As the story ended, a wooden wheel rolled into view. It stopped near Mateo's feet. Pablo gasped and dropped his toy mouse.
'The fox gave up something to help someone else,' he said. The elder nodded. 'What will you give?'
The second boy picked up the wheel. He set it beside the toy mouse. 'We can share,' he said.
They sat together under the big oak. The wind moved through the leaves above them.
The leaves whispered. The wind carried the sound across the quiet square.
