Raven went to the park again.
The slide was there.
The swings were there.
And today… Willow was there too.
Willow was older than Raven.
Not big like a grown-up.
But not little like Raven either.
Willow watched the park quietly.
Raven bounced on her paws.
“I want to go first,” Raven thought.
Someone else was already on the slide.
Raven’s tail flicked.
Waiting felt hard again.
Willow sat beside her.
“It’s okay to feel that way,” Willow said softly.
“Waiting can feel uncomfortable.”
Raven looked up at Willow.
Willow smiled kindly.
“When I wait,” Willow continued,
“I take a breath…
or look around…
or count something nearby.”
Raven tried.
She counted leaves.
She listened to the wind.
She took a slow breath.
The slide emptied.
Raven’s turn came.
She slid down fast, laughing.
At the bottom, Raven looked back.
Willow gave a gentle nod.
Waiting was still hard.
But now Raven knew she didn’t have to do it alone.
Ravens Misadventures 