The Everyday Case Files

Case 01

Tony's case

The Case of the Accidental Stand

I was building my latest LEGO.
The one Grandma gave me.
I was missing a piece. Just one. The last one.
So I stood up.

Then someone said, “Are you okay?”

Warning #1: I was not in pajamas.
Warning #2: No LEGO pieces anywhere.

I looked around.
Desks. Books. A teacher reading aloud.
Oh.

I was not at home,
and that wasn't my LEGO.
I was in class. Standing. In front of everybody.

I had been daydreaming.
I said, “I need to go to the restroom.”

Case solved.
My brain left the classroom. My body followed.

Case 02

Oli's case

A grown-up said, “Just a second.”
I waited.

It was not a second.
It was many seconds,
stacked on top of each other,
wearing a trench coat.

Possible explanations:
• Their clock is broken.
• They forgot about me.
• “Second” is a grown-up word.

So I waited even more.

Correct answer:
“Second” means “later, but I want you to stop asking.”

Case solved for today.
Time has different meanings. I don't know all of them yet.

Case 03

Fleur's case

There was a competition.
I got second place.
Everyone clapped. I clapped too.

My hands agreed. The rest of me did not.
I was about to cry. Why?

Possible explanations:
• My body is dramatic.
• This is not what I planned.
• Something is in my eye.

I stopped and paid attention.

Signal #1: My chest felt tight.
Signal #2: My smile went quiet.
Signal #3: I kept thinking, “But I did everything right.”

The problem was simple.
I did everything right. I worked hard. I followed the rules. I liked my project.
And I still didn't win.

That didn't feel fair.
That feeling had a name.
Jealousy.

Case NOT solved.
I was still mad. I kept clapping.