Bandy stands at the edge of a puddle, his orange shirt flaming against the green. He wiggles his toes, feeling the squish beneath him. Without a sound, he leaps high, soaring cleanly over the puddle and landing with a grin. His brothers cheer, chasing after him, but Bandy is already eyeing the next jump.
With every step, Bandy feels the earth pulse beneath his feet. The rumble of a distant train sends a shiver through his body, the clink of a spoon on a glass makes his fingers twitch. He can’t help but move, each sound drawing a new jump or spin. Though he doesn’t speak, his joy radiates in every leap.
Bandy freezes, his head tilting as his eyes widen. The sound tugs at his heart, and suddenly his knees bounce and his toes wiggle with anticipation. He turns, face lit with excitement, and bolts toward the source. His brothers scramble after, laughing as they try to keep up.
Bandy slows, drawn into the circle by the magnetic rhythm. He doesn’t hesitate; he jumps right into the center, his feet tapping and spinning as the music envelops him. The kids watch, amazed, as his orange shirt blurs in a joyful dance. One child steps forward, hand outstretched, their eyes kind and welcoming.
[@ch_2]"Come dance with us,"[/@ch_2_d]
Bandy grabs the hand and is pulled into the group. He jumps, spins, and invents new rhythms no one has ever seen, his joy contagious. Laughter bubbles up, and the circle grows, everyone moving in their own special way. The world feels larger, brighter, and full of connection.
The music slows, but the happiness lingers in the air like fireflies. Bandy feels the sand between his fingers, the cool grass under his feet, and the warmth of friends beside him. He knows, without needing words, that he’s found a place where he truly belongs. The day ends with one last joyful leap, and the world sparkles just a little brighter.
