

Mia swung high beneath the sun. Theo watched and said, "That looks fun!" "Can I try?" he asked with glee. "Come on over, swing with me!" They laughed and swung way up high. Two new friends beneath the sky. "I'm Mia!" she said with a grin. "I'm Theo!" he said, pulling his wagon in. From that very sunny day, they promised they would always play.

At the beach, they dug and played. A sandy castle slowly made. "Let's add a tower!" Mia cheered. Theo smiled, no longer feared. They patted walls and shaped a moat. Theo placed a tiny boat. "We make a great team!" Theo said. Mia nodded, patting his head. Together they watched their castle gleam, a perfect, happy, shared dream.

They shared a picnic on the grass. Passing sandwiches, they watched clouds pass. "This is the best day ever!" Mia cried. Theo laughed and nodded, open-eyed. They chased a kite up in the breeze. Giggling loud beneath the trees. "Friends like us," said Theo true, "will always find fun things to do!" They hugged goodbye as daylight dimmed, happy hearts with friendship brimmed.

"Let's play tag!" Mia said with cheer. "No, let's build blocks!" Theo said, drawing near. "Tag is better!" Mia said loud. "Blocks are better!" Theo, unbowed. Their voices rose, their faces frowned. Neither one would back down. "Fine, play alone!" Mia said, turning away. Theo frowned, not wanting to stay.

Mia sat beneath a tree alone. Theo sat on a curbside stone. Both felt sad, both felt blue. Missing games the two once knew. "I wish she'd play," Theo sighed low. "I wish he'd come," said Mia slow. The park felt quiet, empty, still. Without their laughter on the hill.

Mia looked at a photo they took, of the castle with the funny crook. She smiled, remembering Theo's grin, and how much fun they'd had within. Theo found the kite they'd flown. He missed his friend, he felt alone. "Maybe," he thought, "I was too proud." He wished he'd not spoken so loud.

Theo's little dog ran free, chasing a squirrel up a tree. "Rex, come back!" Theo called in fear. But Rex kept running, far from here. Theo searched but felt alone. He wished his best friend could be known. Then he saw Mia down the street. Could she help him, quick on her feet?

"Mia, help! My dog ran off!" She didn't pause, she didn't scoff. "Let's find him together," Mia said. They ran past the old garden shed. They checked the park and by the lake, calling "Rex!" for Theo's sake. At last they spotted a wagging tail. Rex was found; they didn't fail.

Rex jumped up with happy barks, licking faces, leaving marks. "Thank you, Mia," Theo said low. "I'm sorry for the fight, you know." "Me too," said Mia with a smile. "Let's not fight like that for a while." They hugged Rex tight between them there, happy, grateful, friends who care.

"Friends don't always have to agree," Mia said beneath the tree. "Sometimes we'll pick different games," Theo said, "but love stays the same." They shook hands, then laughed out loud. No more feeling sad or proud. "Let's take turns," said Mia bright. "Tag then blocks, that's only right." They nodded, happy with the plan. Best friends, together, hand in hand.

They played tag beneath the sun, then built blocks till day was done. Taking turns, they smiled with glee, happy as friends could ever be. Rex ran circles, barking cheer, watching games he held so dear. "This is better," Theo said with a grin. "Sharing fun is how we win!"

Under stars, they sat side by side, best friends with nothing left to hide. "Forever friends?" Mia asked with a smile. "Forever friends," Theo said, "all the while." They pinky-promised beneath the moon, knowing friendship like theirs don't fade soon. Through ups and downs, they'd learned it's true: true friendship means caring, through and through.