The Bench at the Edge of the Playground

There is a bench at the edge of the playground. Most days nobody sits on it.

Today there is a girl. She has curly hair. She is kicking her legs.

The other children are doing the climbing frame. Sami is doing the climbing frame too, but he keeps looking over.

"Why is she over there?" he asks his cousin.

"I don't know."

"Maybe she is sad."

"Maybe."

Sami climbs down. He walks across the playground. The bench is far away when you walk to it on purpose.

"Can I sit?" he asks.

The girl shrugs.

He sits. They both kick their legs.

After a while she says, "I am Maya. We are new here. I do not know anyone."

"I am Sami," he says. "Now you know one person."

She thinks about this. Then she smiles, just a little, only on one side.

"Do you want to do the climbing frame?" he asks.

"Yes," she says. "But slow at first."

So they go. Slow at first.