Mara pushed the Games door open with both careful hands.
Beyond it stood a plain room with hoops, cushions, wooden spoons, and a chalk line across the floor.
The three knocking sounds came from under a stack of chairs.
Theo lifted the chairs and found a boy curled beside a beanbag.
He had round glasses, one red sock, and a worried mouth.
“I’m Corin,” he said. “I came early. I hid because I’m always out first.”
Mara smiled gently. “I get fizzy knees too,” she said.
⁂
Before anyone moved, the crossed spoons on the door flew inside.
They struck the floor three times. From the cupboard rolled a red wooden scoreboard.
First player out begins the party games.
Corin’s face went pale. “See?” he whispered.
Theo frowned. “That is a rotten rule.”
Mara looked at the spoons, then at Corin. A welcome party should not begin by sending someone away.
She picked up two spoons and handed one to Corin. “We shall play a new way.”
⁂
The scoreboard rattled. Three jelly eggs bounced onto the spoons.
“Ready?” said Theo. “I’m quite good at this.”
“Then be good at helping,” said Mara.
They stepped towards the chalk line. Corin’s jelly egg wobbled wildly.
Theo raced ahead, then saw Corin’s lip tremble.
Mara slowed at once. “Look at my elbow, not the egg.”
The egg slid. Corin gasped.
Mara caught his sleeve, and Theo skidded back beside them.
Together they crossed the chalk line, three spoons level and shining.
The scoreboard sneezed chalk dust. The words changed by themselves.
First friend in begins the party games.
Corin laughed so loudly the cushions bounced.
The Toothbrush clicked its bristles, as if clapping.
⁂
The cupboard doors swung open, showing balls, ribbons, and paper crowns.
Mara gave Corin the first crown. “Will you help welcome everyone?”
“Yes,” said Corin. “But no sending people out.”
Then a wrapped parcel on the lowest shelf giggled.
Its ribbon untied itself, and a tiny voice said, “Prizes are missing.”
