The Old Set

Ages 12-15

Dassy opens her old building set beside the new one.

The old pieces fit together with one push. She can make its little gate without looking at the picture.

The new pieces have two narrow slots. They have to meet before either side holds.

At the harder workshop, everyone is making a small bridge.

Dassy joins two new pieces. When she lifts them, one drops back onto the table.

She puts the other down.

Inside the old box, the familiar gate lies flat, ready to stand. She pulls it out and sets it beside the unfinished bridge.

The teacher passes with an empty tray.

"Which one are you working on?"

Dassy points to the bridge.

The gate stays beside it.

On the old gate, its two supports stand farther apart than their tops. Dassy looks at them, then at the new pieces.

She moves the bridge supports apart.

This time the slots meet. The bridge stays up when she takes away her finger.

One side is higher than the other.

She could put it back in the box and use the old gate.

Dassy takes another new piece. She tests its slots beside the higher side, then adds it to the middle.

The little bridge stands with one uneven edge.

At the end of the workshop, Dassy places the old gate in its box. She closes the lid.

Beside it, the new bridge remains standing on the table.