Rain tapped the window. On the living room rug, Leo dropped in the last few loose pieces and saw one big hole right in the middle.
He scooted closer. The pieces scratched softly under his fingers. "I can finish this now," he said.
He grabbed a blue piece and turned it once, twice, three times.
He pushed it into the hole. Pop! The piece jumped right back out.
Leo frowned at the crooked piece. Outside, the rain drummed harder on the glass.
He tried another piece. Then another one.
A striped piece did not fit. A corner-looking piece did not fit. A shiny dark piece did not fit either.
One piece flopped onto the rug with a papery slap.
He stared and stared. Then a silly shape in the picture looked like it was winking at him.
He started to shove the box away. Then he stopped.
He took a deep breath. "One more try," he said.
This time, he looked closely at the tiny swirls and dots.
Near his knee, he spotted the missing pattern hiding on one last piece.
He clicked it into place with a sharp, perfect snap.
Leo patted the finished puzzle flat with both hands. Outside, the rain softened to a hush.
He reached for the box lid and began hunting for another puzzle.
