Arthur and D.W. Build A Playground

 

 

 

“I’m so excited!” said D.W. She was dancing around Arthur as they walked down the street.


“I can tell,” he said.


D.W. smiled. “Well, I’ve never helped to build a playground before.”


“Neither have I,” said Arthur.
 

“I’ve got lots of ideas,” said D.W. “When we get done, this will be the best playground in the whole world.”


They went around the next corner, and Arthur stopped. “Here we are,” he said.


D.W. looked surprised. All she saw were some kids and grown-ups with shovels and wheelbarrows. They were standing in an empty lot.


“Good morning, Arthur,” said his teacher, Mr. Ratburn, who was one of the people in charge. “I’m glad you could make it.”


“Excuse me,” said D.W., “but this doesn’t look like a playground.”


“No, it doesn’t,” Mr. Ratburn agreed. “We’re just about to start.”


“Now that I’m here,” said D.W., “things will go much faster.” She tugged on Arthur’s sleeve. “Come on, we’ve got work to do.”


Arthur smiled. “Lead the way, D.W. I’m right behind you.”

 

D.W. was amazed at how much work went into making a playground.


First, the weeds had to be pulled out.  Next, the rocks had to be removed.  Then the ground had to be leveled.


Soon they were putting up the swings, adjusting the monkey bars, and lowering the slide into place.


“It’s starting to come together,” said Arthur.


“What do you think now?” Mr. Ratburn asked D.W. “Does it look like a playground yet?”


She nodded.


“Excellent,” he said, and walked away to check on some supplies.


D.W. frowned. “I don’t think he noticed,” she whispered to Arthur.


“Noticed what?”


“That I’m doing more work than anyone else,” D.W. explained.


“This isn’t a contest,” Arthur reminded her. “The important thing is that everyone’s helping out and working together on something they couldn’t do alone.”


It took a couple more hours before everything was finished. D.W. was so busy that she forgot all about keeping track of how hard anyone was working.


At last the playground was done.


“Hooray!” everyone shouted.

 

On the way home, Arthur seemed a bit tired, but D.W. was still full of energy. She couldn’t stop talking about how great the day had been.


“I just have one question,” she asked.


“What’s that?” asked Arthur.


D.W. smiled. “Can we build another playground tomorrow?