1-2-3 Let's Go Play. - A Day at the Park
Lina woke up humming, "1-2-3 — let's go play!"
Sunbeam Park shimmered with morning light and a playful wind.
A single golden leaf floated down in the shape of a shimmering 1, pointing the way.
The 1-leaf led to the swings where one big swing waited for Lina's laugh.
Two bright leaves tumbled over the pond and two ducks quacked, curious.
Three kites twirled high — three ribbons painted stripes across the sky.
Four leaves curled down, landing on the tall twisty slide where Lina whooped and zoomed!
Then Lina searched for five — but the five-leaf had vanished, and the merry-go-round stood still.
Six splashes led them to a puddle patch; Lina leapt six joyful puddle-jumps.
Seven petals swirled in the flower garden while seven bees hummed a busy beat.
Eight tiny ant trails pointed to a sunlit picnic bench, and Lina followed the tiny march.
Nine balloons bobbed near the fence, each one bouncing with a giggle of color.
Ten shiny stepping stones crossed the creek like a dotted path to the old oak.
When Lina looked back, the merry-go-round still did not spin — the five-seat stayed empty.
Lina felt a tiny worry swell like a pebble in her pocket. "Where did five go?" she asked the breeze.
Pip tugged the string and pointed with a kite-tilt toward tiny footprints leading past the sandbox.
They followed the trail and found silly little clues: a lost button, a silver pebble, a flutter of ribbon.
Near the fountain Lina heard a faint jingle — a silver bell tinkled under her shoe-lace.
Inside the bell shimmered a curled golden leaf — the missing five had been tucked under her lace all along!
Lina laughed and ran to the merry-go-round, five safely returned; the ride spun like a painted rainbow.
Music bubbled up from the park and even the ducks seemed to clap their wings in delight.
Lina learned to look closely, to notice small hiding places, and to ask for help when puzzlement popped up.
She counted each leaf and stone again, this time sharing the numbers with Pip and with a giggling breeze.
As the sun dipped, Lina and Pip sat beneath the oak, counting orange leaves: "1-2-3..."
She smiled, knowing that play, counting, and looking carefully made every day braver and brighter.
Lina whispered, "Tomorrow we'll count again," and Pip hummed on the returning breeze.
The End. Where will you find numbers tomorrow?
