Rosemary’s Chalk Game

Rosemary and Sylvia draw a stepping game on the garden paving. They make a row of chalk circles and leave room between them for careful steps.

Sylvia tries the route, but the last circle is too far away. The jump feels too big. She stops with both feet together instead of trying it.

Rosemary moves the last circle closer and asks Sylvia to try again. This time she reaches it comfortably, and the girls take turns along their new route.

A short shower sends them under the veranda with Mum. When the rain stops, some circles have washed away. The paving is slippery.

Mum suggests using the dry space beneath the roof while the patio dries. The girls draw a shorter route there. They make the gaps match their comfortable steps.

Rosemary adds a turning circle so the route leads back to the start. Sylvia follows it slowly, then shows Mum how to move along their sheltered path.

They take turns choosing a different way to travel. They try small sideways steps. If a gap feels awkward, they stop and adjust it. They do not rush through.

Later, they wipe the chalk from the sheltered paving with a damp cloth. “Our game changed twice,” says Rosemary, “but we still found a way to play.”