Rain tapped the windows. A knock came at the door, and Tumbleby hurried to answer it.
But the moment Tumbleby's friend stepped in, Tumbleby scooped up the toy train and the red block box and hugged them close. “We can play here,” Tumbleby said in a small voice.
Tumbleby put out only the plain wooden cubes. The favorite toys stayed on the highest shelf.
Rain pattered on the roof while the cubes rose into a wobbly tower. Clack! Down it went. Tumbleby hid a little smile.
Then Tumbleby's friend pointed to the shelf. “Can the train come too?”
Tumbleby grabbed the train first and pushed it around the table alone. “Chug-chug!”
One little car popped loose, zipped under the sofa, and came out dragging a dust bunny like a fuzzy gray cape.
Tumbleby blinked. Then both friends laughed at the silly puff of dust in the lamplight.
Tumbleby's friend rolled the loose car back. “Your turn, then my turn?”
Tumbleby slid one car over. Then another. Soon they were clicking tracks together across the rug and through a tunnel of red blocks.
Crash! The train burst through, and the block tunnel flew apart. Both of them gasped.
Tumbleby looked at the blocks, looked at the friend, and said, “Let’s build it bigger together.”
All afternoon, they took turns. One stacked. One steered. Then they swapped.
The train rolled over bridges, around towers, and right up to snack time.
