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Outdoor playground in bright afternoon sun; slides and monkey bars cast crisp shadows. Zander sprints across wood chips toward Emma, who stands near the swings waving, both grinning.
Zander, with short mellow blonde hair, raced to the playground. Emma, with medium light brown hair, waved. "Hi, friend!" she called. "Uh oh!" Zander laughed, nearly tripping. "Let's play together."
Sunny sandbox corner of the playground. Emma kneels beside a half-built sandcastle while Zander's hip knocks the red bucket, tower crumbling; Emma's mouth opens in shock, grains scattering through warm light.
Emma built a tall sandcastle. Zander dashed by and bumped the bucket. The tower collapsed. "Uh oh," he whispered. "I didn't see it!" Emma's face drooped, and her hands paused.
Same sandbox, late afternoon glow. Emma sits shoulders slumped, tears on cheeks, while Zander kneels at her side looking gently concerned, palms resting on the sand and bucket forgotten behind them.
"I worked hard," Emma said softly. Zander looked at her eyes and noticed tears. "You feel sad," he said. He sat beside her. "I want to understand. Tell me more?"
Sandbox under lengthening shadows. Zander faces Emma, hand over heart, apologizing; Emma presses fingertips together, hopeful eyes meeting his, small ruined sand piles between them.
Emma took a slow breath. Zander took one too. "I'm sorry I knocked it down," he said. "How can I help?" Emma sniffed. "Maybe rebuild with me?" she asked hopefully.
Bright morning light on the sandbox. Zander and Emma sit side by side shaping wet sand, shells and a green shovel scattered around, a sturdy new castle rising between their concentrating smiles.
They patted damp sand, side by side. "Great idea," Zander said, handing her the bucket. Emma smiled. "Thanks for asking first." Shell by shell, their castle rose, stronger and friendlier.
Sunny playground bench beside the sandbox. Zander and Emma sit cross-legged facing each other, eyes closed and sneakers touching toe to toe, as they mime slipping on invisible shoes; breeze rustles nearby trees.
"Let's switch shoes in our minds," Emma suggested. Zander nodded. "If my castle fell, I'd feel upset too." He pictured heavy feelings. "I'd want a friend to notice and care."
Grass beneath a wide shady oak in late morning. Emma and Zander sprawl over a big poster, coloring bright hearts, ears, and the words 'Happy, Sad, Worried, Mad'; markers and crayons litter the picnic blanket.
Under a shady tree, they drew a feelings poster. "Happy, sad, worried, mad," Emma read. Zander added caring words: "I'm here." "Can I help?" They colored bright hearts and listening ears.
Park picnic table under midday sun. Crackers fly from Zander's tipped snack box, scattering across the wooden surface while Emma kneels, hands outstretched, apologetic eyes raised; juice pouch and backpack sit beside them.
Later, Emma bumped Zander's snack, and crackers scattered everywhere. "Uh oh," she gasped. "I'm sorry." She knelt, gathering crumbs. "Want half of mine?" Zander smiled, "Thanks for caring about my tummy."
Playground trash bin area in soft afternoon light. Emma holds a crumpled wrapper, Zander offers a water bottle; stacked cleaned containers rest on the bench, their relaxed shoulders showing cooperative tidying.
Together they practiced kind questions. "Are you okay?" Emma asked. "What do you need?" Zander said. They cleaned up, stacked wrappers, and shared water. Their shoulders relaxed, and both bellies felt better.
Indoor classroom with large paper spread on tile floor, fluorescent lights overhead. Zander crawls forward drawing big green footprints labeled 'Step one: stop,' while Emma writes 'Step two: look' beside him, colored markers scattered nearby.
Zander drew footprints. "Step one: stop." Emma added, "Step two: look." Together they said, "Step three: listen." Zander finished, "Step four: imagine." Emma smiled, "Step five: act kindly," and they clapped.
Gymnasium floor under bright ceiling lamps. Zander and Emma leap into a joyous high-five, 'stop-look-listen-imagine-act' poster propped against the wall behind them, chalk lines of dance steps still on the polished wood.
They practiced their plan like a dance. "Stop, look, listen, imagine, act," they chanted. Zander pretended to frown; Emma noticed quickly. Emma pretended to worry; Zander offered help. They high-fived, laughing.
Twilight at the playground sandbox. Rebuilt sandcastle stands sturdy as Zander and Emma plant their colorful feelings poster in the sand, its corners flapping gently while golden streetlights flicker on behind the swings.
Back by the castle, waves shimmered in the sandbox. "Uh ohs happen," Emma said. "But empathy helps." Zander nodded. "Next time someone needs a friend, we'll be ready." Their poster fluttered kindly.