Mia walked to the community garden with her caregiver. The morning was bright and gentle. Bees hummed beside the flowers, and a soft breeze moved the leaves. Mia held her little camera with both hands.
Near a tree, she spotted Bramble, a young squirrel. He sat on a low branch, looking down at an acorn on the ground. The acorn rested close to the tree roots.
Mia stopped on the garden path. She looked at the acorn. Then she looked at Bramble. She stayed right where she was.
“Hello, Bramble,” Mia said softly. “I see your acorn.”
Bramble twitched his nose. Then he scampered down the tree, picked up the acorn, and tucked it beneath a little pile of leaves. Mia did not touch the acorn. She did not step closer. She gave Bramble plenty of room.
After a moment, Mia turned toward the flowers. She lifted her camera and took a picture of a sunny yellow flower.
“Click!”
Then she took a picture of a purple flower.
“Click!”
At last, she took a picture of a tall green stem swaying in the breeze.
“Pretty pictures,” said her caregiver.
Mia smiled and looked at the screen. The flowers looked bright and beautiful. When she glanced back at the tree, Bramble was climbing higher. His fluffy tail waved once between the leaves. Then he slipped out of sight.
Mia and her caregiver walked home. Soon, Grandma was waiting in the family kitchen. The table was ready for snack time.
Mia looked at the three places around the table. Each place had a plate, a cup, and a spoon. But one place had no napkin.
Mia spotted a soft blue napkin on the counter. She picked it up with both hands and carried it carefully to the table.
“Here is the napkin,” Mia said.
She placed it beside the empty place. Then she looked around the table again.
“One,” Mia said, pointing to the first place.
Her caregiver pointed to the next place. “Two.”
Grandma pointed to the last place. “Three!”
Mia clapped. “One, two, three!”
Now all three places were ready. Mia sat beside her caregiver, and Grandma sat in the third chair. Red apple slices filled the plates. Small, crunchy crackers waited in a bowl.
Mia took an apple slice. Her caregiver took a cracker. Grandma smiled as they began their snack together.
Outside, Bramble rested high in the tree beside his hidden acorn. Inside, Mia’s blue napkin lay neatly on the table. The kitchen felt warm, and three happy places were ready for sharing.
Talk about the story
1.Who walked with Mia to the garden?
2.What did Mia take pictures of?
3.How many places were at the table?
