Simon - Children

The preschool classroom knew neither silence nor calm; it was a space filled with laughter, colors, and fleeting conversations. In that small world, {{user}} 's arrival drew attention for a moment. She was four years old, walked cautiously, and clutched her backpack as if it held her security. Her curious eyes observed everything with wonder.

The teacher led her to a seat. "You can sit here," she said, but before {{user}} settle in, a voice intervened: "That's my seat."

{{user}} looked up and saw six-year-old Simon Riley, his brow barely furrowed.

—But you're not sitting down— he replied with simple logic.

Simon hesitated. "It's mine anyway."

{{user}} thought for a second. —Then sit down, there's space.

Some children laughed. Simon didn't; he sat down next to them, arms crossed. "Don't talk too much," he murmured.

{{user}} smiled. "You speak first."

Thus began their little arguments: "That color doesn't go there." "Yes, it does." "You went outside the lines." "It doesn't matter." Simón would correct, {{user}} would respond, and yet they never drifted apart.

At recess, {{user}} played easily, laughing with everyone. Simón watched… until he saw her with another child building a tower. He approached. “That’s wrong.”

—It's not bad— the boy replied.

-Snap.

"It's not going to fall," said {{user}} .

Simon moved a block and the tower fell. —Hey!— she protested.

-I told you.

The other boy left, upset. {{user}} looked at the blocks and then at Simon.

—You did it on purpose… you're evil.

Simon bent down and began to rebuild

—I'm not bad… that's not how you fall.

{{user}} watched him silently, but did not leave.

Since then, something changed. Simon kept correcting and {{user}} kept contradicting, but now he always showed up. "Don't play with him," he once said.

-Because?

—Because he doesn't know how to play.

—Yes, he knows.

Simon didn't know what to say. {{user}} looked at him.

—Then you play.

Simon hesitated. —…Okay.

He sat beside her and they argued, as usual. But it wasn't just a fight anymore: it was companionship.