The Game After Her Apology

Chapter 1The Torn Corner

Chaya had turned the page of Leah's handmade puzzle book too quickly.

A corner tore near a drawing of a little house.

Leah took the book back and laid it flat.

Chaya said she was sorry. She asked Mrs. Weiss to help repair the page using the classroom materials Leah approved.

The teacher helped them place a neat paper backing under the tear.

The house could be seen again. The corner was still creased.

At recess, Chaya brought out their usual word game.

"Come play. I apologized and we fixed it."

Leah shook her head.

"I want to finish checking my book."

Chaya felt a hot rush in her cheeks.

"Are you going to stay angry forever?"

Leah closed her book carefully and moved to the next desk.

Now Chaya had added a sharp sentence to the torn corner.

Chaya sat beside the word cards with an empty chair across from her.

Mrs. Weiss came past.

"Is your partner coming?"

"She won't play even though I said sorry."

Mrs. Weiss listened to what had happened.

"An apology doesn't give you her next turn," she said. "You can repair what you did. Leah can decide when she wants to play."

Chaya looked toward the book. Leah was smoothing each page slowly, making sure the other corners were whole.

Chaya asked whether she could speak to Leah for a moment.

Leah said yes.

"I'm also sorry I asked if you'd stay angry forever. You didn't say that. I wanted you to play right away."

Leah kept one hand on her book.

"I don't want another page torn."

"I understand. I won't take your book without asking. And you don't have to play now."

Chaya went back to her desk. She put away the word cards instead of carrying them after Leah.

Chaya asked Mrs. Weiss which quiet activity she could use for the rest of recess.

The teacher offered the class drawing paper.

Chaya drew a house with so many windows that one wall looked like a checkerboard.

She did not keep watching Leah's chair or asking whether she was ready yet.

When the bell rang, Chaya returned the unused paper to the tray.

Leah put her repaired book into its protective folder.

They both had somewhere to put their hands besides the word cards.

The next afternoon, Leah asked whether Chaya wanted a short word game.

Chaya took out the cards.

She did not say, "Finally." She asked which round Leah wanted to play.

Later, Leah showed her the puzzle book while holding the pages herself.

Chaya solved the clue beside the little house without touching the corner.

The crease remained. So did the chance to handle the next visit more carefully.