Chloe sat quietly by the window, her big brown eyes following the shadows of children darting under the bright afternoon sun. A patchwork bear rested in her lap, its button eyes reflecting her hope. She listened as the happy sounds drifted in, wishing someone would come and ask her to join.
Chloe shuffled her feet, watching Mia and Leo chase each other. She wanted to shout, but her voice stayed trapped inside. The laughter of the others made her heart flutter with hope, but no one seemed to notice her.
Chloe swung back and forth, thinking about all the times she waited for someone to invite her. Suddenly, she wondered, "What if I just asked to play?" The thought made her stomach flutter, but also filled her with a tiny spark of courage.
"Hi, can I play too?"
Mia looked up, her face bright with surprise. "Of course, Chloe! We need one more for the castle tower!"
Chloe grinned as she scooped sand into the bucket, feeling the warmth of belonging. Leo showed her how to pat the sand down, and Mia handed her a flag to place on top. For the first time, Chloe didn’t wait—she was part of the fun.
"This is the best castle ever!"
"I’m so glad I asked to play," Chloe beamed, feeling proud and happy. From that day forward, she knew she could join any game, just by saying, "I want to play."
