The One Room

Ages 12-15

Leiba's friend arrives while the moving boxes still fill the hall.

One box has crossed twine around its lid. Another has the word "Kitchen" on its side.

Leiba leads her friend to the unpacked room.

Her friend pauses beside the tied box.

"What's in that?"

Leiba lifts the game box from the room's little shelf.

"I don't know all of it."

Her friend touches the twine.

"We could look."

Leiba puts the game box on the rug.

"Not those. I can show you in here."

Her friend leaves the twine alone and comes into the room.

Leiba opens the game. They spread its ordinary matching cards across the rug.

Outside the door, the tied box stays beside the kitchen one.

Leiba's friend finds the first pair. She places it beside her knee. Leiba turns another card, then puts it back facedown.

By the end, each has a small pile.

They put the pairs back in the game box. Leiba carries it to the shelf while her friend gets her coat.

At the front door, Leiba holds the coat's sleeve clear of the moving boxes.

Her friend waves from the step. Beside Leiba, the crossed twine still lies snug across the unopened lid.