The Way We Stay – Story 3

The Turn That Waited

The blocks were on the floor.
Tall. Careful. Almost perfect.

Kavi placed the last blue block on top.
He leaned back and smiled.

Then the tower shook.

“I want a turn,” said Anya.
Her hand was already reaching.

“No!” Kavi said.
The tower fell.

Blocks scattered across the room.

Anya’s face tightened.
Kavi’s smile disappeared.

Mama looked up from the chair.
She did not raise her voice.
She came closer.

“I made it,” Kavi said quickly.
“She touched it.”

“I just wanted one,” Anya said.

Mama sat down on the floor.
Between them.
Not above.

She looked at the blocks.
Then at their faces.

“That was hard,” she said.

No one argued.

Mama gathered the blocks into a small pile.
Not to fix the tower.
Just to hold the moment.

“Waiting can feel long,” Mama said.
“And losing a turn can feel loud inside.”

Kavi nodded.
Anya kicked the carpet.

Mama held up two blocks.
One red.
One yellow.

“Which one goes first?” she asked.

Kavi looked at Anya.
Anya looked back.

“You,” Kavi said.
After a pause.

Anya placed the red block carefully.
The tower began again.

Mama stayed close.
She did not clap.
She did not count turns.

She watched.

The tower grew slower this time.
Stronger too.

When it fell again,
they laughed.

And the turn waited.
Because they did.

Sharing grows when children feel seen.
Waiting is easier
when someone stays with the feeling.

How did Kavi and Anya decide whose turn it was?

Build something together.
Pause before each turn.
Notice how waiting feels.