The Clubhouse With No Room

Picture: The Clubhouse With No Room

Narrator: Rain tapped the classroom window. The Little Nauts had a whole morning of indoor play—and four ideas for what to do.

Pax: That puddle is getting a puddle of its own.

Lux: We could make a clubhouse in here.

Jahari: A clubhouse for all of us?

Lux: All of us.

Jahman: You can use these shared cushions. Keep this walking space clear, and leave the table where it is.

Lux: The cloth makes a cozy hideaway.

Pax: With an adventure outside!

Zion: Could I draw in our clubhouse?

Jahari: And I'll invite everyone to a picnic.

Narrator: They all said yes to a clubhouse. Each was imagining a different kind of fun.

Pax: I can already hear the jungle.

Zion: I can hear the rain.

Jahari: I can hear my picnic guests arriving.

Lux: First we need somewhere to welcome them.

Lux: Here's our doorway. And a place for each of us.

Jahari: Welcome to our picnic. The biscuits are very imaginary.

Pax: Then I can have a very imaginary enormous one.

Zion: I'll sit here. My paper stays still on this cushion.

Picture: Zion adds a few lines to his drawing.

Zion: I'm drawing a tree, with a little path beside it.

Jahari: Trees are welcome at the picnic, too.

Pax: A lion lives at the end of my path.

Lux: Our clubhouse has a jungle already?

Pax: A very small jungle.

Pax: This would make a good stepping stone.

Zion: Wait—I'm using that.

Pax: Just one little step.

Narrator: Pax was thinking about his trail. Zion was trying to keep his picture still.

Pax: Here comes the lion. Rrr!

Jahari: Would anyone like a cup of—

Pax: Rrr! I'm coming through!

Jahari: —rain? My picnic has become a path.

Zion: The roaring is very close to my drawing place.

Pax: You can be in the jungle with me.

Zion: I wanted to draw with you here.

Lux: The doorway keeps moving, too.

Narrator: Their clubhouse had room for four bodies. Their games kept getting in each other's way.

Jahari: We wanted to play together. Why is it getting so difficult?

Lux: What if everyone gets a corner? One place each. Then we'll all have the same amount.

Pax: A lion corner!

Zion: A drawing corner.

Jahari: We can try it.

Narrator: They made four separate places and tried again.

Lux: Now we each have a corner.

Pax: Mine has a lion in it.

Jahari: Mine has four imaginary cups. But only one guest.

Pax: Rrr! The lion is visiting.

Zion: I need a quieter place for this bit.

Narrator: The corners stayed apart. The sound didn't.

Jahari: Tea, cushion?

Jahari: Hmm. Very quiet guest.

Lux: We made a place for everyone.

Jahari: But Zion's place is empty. And he's still right here.

Narrator: Jahari could see Zion wasn't enjoying the game. What could he ask to find out what would help?

Your turn: Say it, think it, or point to the friend.

Jahari: What would help you enjoy our clubhouse?

Zion: I want to be with you. I want my picture to stay still. And the roaring is too loud beside me.

Jahari: Would you like a place on your own?

Zion: A quiet place with you.

Jahari: Oh. Quiet, and together. I thought you wanted to be away from us.

Zion: I didn't. I just wanted the noise farther away.

Jahari: Thanks for telling me. Can we talk with Pax and Lux?

Zion: Yes. I'll bring my picture.

Jahman: We can leave the clubhouse here while you talk. There's time.

Jahari: I wanted a picnic with my friends. It wasn't much fun inviting an empty cushion.

Lux: I wanted a snug hideaway where we could welcome each other.

Pax: I wanted to go on an adventure. I still do.

Zion: I want to draw here with you. I need the paper to stay still, and a quieter space beside it.

Pax: Even if you aren't playing lion?

Zion: Even then.

Jahari: We don't all have to do the same thing to be together.

Lux: I made four corners. I didn't ask what you wanted to do in them.

Zion: The corners didn't stop the roar.

Lux: You're right. We need a plan for the space and for our game.

Pax: The lion needs to hear this plan, too.

Pax: I moved your cushion without asking. Sorry. Shall I put it back where you were drawing?

Zion: Yes, please. I still need it for my paper.

Picture: Pax puts the drawing cushion back.

Pax: Is that steady now?

Zion: Yes. Thank you.

Pax: Next time I'll ask first.

Narrator: Pax couldn't undo the slip. He could help put things right.

Narrator: A picnic, a cozy hideaway, an adventure, and a quiet drawing place. What could they change so they can enjoy being together?

Your turn: Take a moment to imagine your plan.

Lux: We could bring our sitting places together again. The picnic and drawing can be our quiet home base.

Pax: And the adventure?

Lux: Around the outside. Then your path won't go across the picnic or Zion's paper.

Jahari: Can we sit near each other, instead of guarding four corners?

Zion: Yes. Keep this cushion here for my picture, please.

Lux: We can do that. May I move the red entrance cushion to this side?

Jahari: Yes. That will leave room to come in.

Narrator: They moved the shared cushions by agreement. Now the path went around their places, and everyone could sit together.

Pax: Ready for a test visit?

Jahari: The picnic is open.

Zion: My drawing place is ready, too.

Pax: Here comes the—

Pax: Oh. My roar will still reach you, won't it?

Zion: It will. The path moved, but my ears are still here.

Narrator: Their new places helped. The game needed a change as well.

Pax: Can this lion visit with quiet paws?

Zion: Yes. I'd like that. I'm going to keep drawing for a while.

Pax: All right. Very quiet paws.

Lux: The doorway is ready for a quiet visitor.

Jahari: Welcome, lion. Would you like an imaginary biscuit?

Pax: Two, please. I asked very quietly.

Zion: I can draw and be here with you now.

Picture: A quiet moment together.

Narrator: Pax has another idea for a stepping stone. Zion is still using that cushion. What could Pax say before taking it?

Your turn: Think about what Pax could ask.

Pax: May I borrow the blue cushion when you've finished using it?

Zion: When I've finished this part. I'll tell you.

Pax: Okay. I can use the red stepping stone while I wait.

Lux: I'll come around the path with you.

Zion: I've finished that part. You can borrow it now.

Pax: Thank you. I'll bring it back after this turn.

Jahari: Is our plan working for everyone?

Lux: It's cozy, and I can come and go.

Zion: My picture stayed still. And I'm with you.

Pax: The lion has an adventure—and a picnic invitation.

Jahari: Try a little play plan with a friend or grown-up. Each share one thing you'd like to do.

Zion: Say it, point to it, or draw your idea. Ask what matters to the other person, and let them finish.

Lux: Tell them what you understood. They can help you change your guess.

Jahari: I'd like to tell a story.

Lux: I'd like to draw. Could we sit together while you tell it?

Jahari: I'd like that. Let's try.

Pax: You can play together, take turns, or do different things beside each other. Find a plan you both want to try.

Zion: Then check: “Is this working for you?” You can change the plan.

Narrator: Playing on your own? Draw two pretend playmates with different ideas, then draw a little plan that makes room for both. Next time, ask a real friend what they would like.

Jahman: If a disagreement feels too big, a trusted grown-up can help you talk it through.

Pax: And ask before borrowing a thing someone is using.

Picture: Pax returns the borrowed cushion.

Pax: Cushion returned. Lion included.

Jahari: Everyone's invited to the picnic.

Lux: Now our clubhouse feels like ours.

Zion: There's room for what we each wanted.

Pax: May this lion have another biscuit?

Lux: Do lions like biscuits?

Pax: This one does. You asked.

Narrator: Their clubhouse hadn't grown bigger. They had made room by asking, listening, and trying a plan together.

Jahari: Room for you?

Zion: Room for us.

Picture: Ask. Listen. Make room together.