Room for a Little Road

Orin was four, and he liked to pretend he was an elephant calf. He made a trunk with one arm. This morning, he packed a chunky piece of sky-blue chalk. He wanted to draw roads with the child he had seen at the park. Her name was Ada.

Yesterday, Orin had watched Ada pushing a little yellow truck. He had wanted his chalk road to reach her truck. But his greeting had gone unheard beside the noisy swings. Ada had hurried after her truck. Now Orin thought she did not want to talk to him.

Today, Ada was beside the paved path again. She rolled her truck along a crack. Orin stood close to Mum and watched. He wanted to go over. He also wanted to keep his chalk inside his pocket. His tummy felt tight. He was worried she would turn away.