Maya
Bea? I can hear you. Why can’t I find your hand?
Bea
Because it keeps moving me.
Maya
What keeps moving you?
Bea
The wall.
The Many
Pull.
Bea
Maya?
Maya
I’m here!
Maya
Hi. It’s Maya. Today’s story is called Pull Together.
Leo
Is this the ant one?
Maya
Yes.
Leo
An ant? You were scared of an ant?
Maya
Not one.
Leo
How many?
Maya
We couldn’t count them. We couldn’t even see where they stopped.
Leo
Oh.
Maya
This one is scary. If you want a hand to hold, find it now.
It started with a scavenger hunt. Last time, my team came last. This time, I had a plan. It was a very good plan. Everybody just had to do what I said.
The hunt was in the school garden. There was a low hedge, two benches, and a little hill with roots sticking out of it. Red flags showed us where to stop. Ms. Okafor stood at the flagpole with the ribbons. I could already imagine carrying our basket back to her. First. Before anybody else.
The hunt
Ms. Okafor
Four things in your basket. A feather, a red leaf, a smooth stone, and something beginning with M. Stay inside the red flags. When you hear my whistle, come back here to the flagpole. With your whole team.
Junie
Does M have to fit in the basket?
Ms. Okafor
That would help.
Maya
Me. I start with M.
Junie
You’re not fitting in there.
Bea
One of your feet might.
Maya
My feet are not scavenger things.
Lucas
One of them has a leaf stuck to it.
Ms. Okafor
Ready? First team back with all four things wins. Off you go!
Bea
Can we do this one together?
Maya
Yes. We’re going to win this time. Follow me.
Bea
I meant can I carry the basket too?
Maya
You can hold that side.
Bea
And choose where we look?
Maya
I know a quick way. We’ll look under the bench, then by the hedge, then come straight back.
Junie
What if the things aren’t there?
Maya
They will be.
Lucas
Did you put them there?
Maya
No.
Junie
Then they haven’t heard your plan.
Lucas
Look. Ants.
Junie
Ant doesn’t start with M.
Lucas
They’re carrying a leaf. Watch the pebble.
Bea
It’s stuck.
Lucas
Wait.
Bea
Oh! They turned it. They’ve got it round.
Maya
We need a red leaf. That one’s brown. Come on.
Bea
Feather!
Maya
Where?
Bea
Under that bench. Don’t step on it.
It’s white at the bottom and gray at the top. Like somebody dipped it.
Junie
A bird did.
Bea
I know it came from a bird.
Lucas
There’s another one over here. A little one.
Maya
Take that one. It’s easier.
Bea
I’ve nearly got this one. It’s caught under a twig.
Maya
Bea.
Bea
Just a second.
There. See? I didn’t break it.
Junie
And there’s our leaf. Red. Five pointy bits.
Maya
Two things. Lucas, stone. Quick.
Lucas
I’ve got one. Feel it. This side’s cold.
Bea
Careful of my feather.
Maya
Three. We only need M.
Junie
Mud.
Bea
Moss. There’s moss under the hedge.
Lucas
We can pick up a piece that’s fallen off.
Maya
Mud’s quicker. This way.
Bea
But the moss is right here.
Junie
The puddle’s over there.
Maya
Why aren’t you moving?
Bea
The basket’s hooked on the root. Wait. Let me lift this side.
Maya
That team’s going back already! Pull!
Junie
Which way?
Maya
This way!
Bea
Ow. My feather.
Lucas
Bea, you okay?
Bea
Yes. But look. It’s bent.
Maya
We can find another one. Come on.
Bea
I said wait.
The leaf
Lucas
Maya.
Maya
What?
Lucas
The leaf’s coming back.
Junie
What do you mean, coming back?
Lucas
Our red one. Look.
Bea
It’s going up the hill.
Junie
Leaves don’t go uphill.
Maya
Maybe it’s the wind.
Bea
My hair’s not moving.
Lucas
There are ants underneath it.
Maya
Like the other leaf.
Lucas
No. Look at the other lines.
Bea
There was one going under the bench. And one beside my boot.
Junie
And that one by the stone.
Lucas
They’ve all stopped going where they were going.
Bea
They’re all turning.
Junie
Toward us.
Maya
Pick the basket up.
The Many
Pull.
Bea
Lucas?
Lucas
I didn’t say anything.
Junie
It came from under there.
Maya
Put the basket down.
Maybe somebody’s hiding behind the hedge.
Junie
Who?
Maya
Another team. Trying to scare us.
Bea
Then why are the ants still coming?
Lucas
Don’t step over that line.
Maya
I wasn’t going to.
Bea
The red leaf’s gone.
Junie
It went underneath. I saw it. They carried it into the middle.
Bea
Is that a root?
Lucas
Which one?
Bea
The black one. Beside the hedge.
Junie
Roots don’t stand up.
The many
Ms. Okafor
Back to the flagpole, everyone!
Maya
There. We can go that way.
Bea
It’s moving that way too.
Lucas
Back up. Slowly.
Junie
It’s taller than me.
Maya
Ms. Okafor!
Bea
Over here!
Maya
Go round the bench. We can get past the bench.
Junie
There are ants there too.
Bea
Then back the way we came.
Lucas
That’s where they’re coming from.
Maya
I looked for its eyes. There weren’t any. I looked for a head. There wasn’t one of those either. But when I moved, the whole hill turned toward me. All those tiny things, moving like one enormous thing. It didn’t need a face to know where we were.
The Many
Pull.
Junie
The ground’s moving.
Bea
No. The ground’s down there.
Maya
Hold my hand!
Lucas
I can’t reach you!
Bea
Maya, it’s coming over the top.
Junie
There’s still a bit of sky.
Maya
Where?
Junie
There. There, above
It’s gone.
Inside
Maya
Bea?
Bea
Here.
Maya
Junie?
Junie
Here.
Maya
Lucas?
Lucas
I’m here. Everybody can breathe?
Bea
Yes.
Junie
It’s warm.
Bea
Something’s walking on my sleeve.
Lucas
Don’t put your hands down. The floor’s moving.
Junie
I can feel it through my shoes.
Bea
Are we in the hill?
Lucas
I think the hill closed round us.
Maya
Ms. Okafor will hear us. Everybody call.
Bea
Ms. Okafor!
Junie
We’re here!
Lucas
By the hedge!
Bea
She heard!
Maya
Again. Ms. Okafor!
We’re moving too.
Junie
I can hear the whistle. It’s getting farther away.
Lucas
We need to stop moving.
Maya
I am stopped.
Lucas
I mean the ball. The ball’s moving us.
Junie
My back was against that bit. Now that bit’s under my feet.
Bea
Don’t say that.
Junie
I’m telling you where I am.
Maya
Stay close. Everybody stay close.
Bea
Maya, take my hand.
Maya
Where is it?
Bea
In front of me.
Maya
Bea? I can hear you. Why can’t I find your hand?
Bea
Because it keeps moving me.
Maya
What keeps moving you?
Bea
The wall. There wasn’t a wall here. Now there is.
The Many
Pull.
Bea
Maya?
Maya
I’m here!
Junie
There’s one in front of me too.
Lucas
It’s putting us in little rooms.
Bea
I don’t want a room.
Junie
I can see something white. Through a crack.
Maya
Is it outside?
Junie
No. It’s Bea’s sleeve. Bea, move your arm.
Bea
Like this?
Junie
Yes. That’s you. You’re still right beside us.
Bea
Then why can’t I get to you?
Maya
I can get you out. Keep talking.
Bea
What do I say?
Maya
Anything.
Bea
My hand’s here. My hand’s still here. Maya, my hand’s
Maya
Got it!
I’m pulling you to me.
Lucas
I’ve got your sleeve, Bea. This way!
Bea
Wait. Which way?
Maya
I’ve got you!
Bea
Then why am I going the other way?
Junie
The wall’s getting bigger!
The Many
Pull.
Bea
Stop pulling! Both of you!
Lucas
I was trying to help.
Bea
I know. But you’re pulling me two ways.
Maya
Are you hurt?
Bea
No. I’m stuck.
Maya
You told me to wait. At the basket.
Bea
I know.
Maya
I didn’t.
Bea
Can you do it now?
Maya
I wanted to say I knew how to get us out. I wanted Bea to believe me. But I didn’t know. And I could feel her fingers slipping out of mine. So I held on, and this time I let her finish.
The small gap
Maya
Okay. What do you need?
Bea
Lucas, let my sleeve come toward Maya.
Lucas
Okay. I’m letting go of the sleeve. I’m still here.
Bea
Maya, wait till my arm’s straight.
Maya
Is it straight?
Bea
Not yet.
Now. Pull a little. I’ll come that way too.
Maya
Air. Cold air!
Junie
I can see a line of light!
Lucas
What did you do?
Bea
We went the same way.
Maya
Everybody! Over here! Come on!
Junie
Wait! I’m not facing that way!
Lucas
I haven’t got anybody’s hand!
Bea
Maya!
Maya
No. No, it was open.
The Many
Pull.
Bea
You didn’t ask if we were ready.
Maya
I thought if we went quickly
Bea
I wasn’t ready.
Maya
I don’t know what to do.
Junie
I can still hear her.
Maya
The teacher?
Junie
Yes. Through here. Be quiet a minute.
There.
Lucas
We made a hole before. Just a little one.
Bea
When we stopped pulling against each other.
Lucas
I couldn’t see Maya. I thought I was pulling you away from the wall.
Bea
You were pulling me away from her.
Junie
Then we need to know where everybody’s going before we move.
Maya
Toward the whistle.
Junie
Yes. But it’s behind my shoulder. I have to turn first.
Maya
Turn. We’ll wait.
Junie. Can you show us where?
The turn — the line
Junie
I’m putting my hand out. Lucas, can you reach it?
Lucas
A bit lower. Yes. I’ve got you.
Maya, here’s my other hand.
Maya
Got it. Bea?
Bea
I’ve still got yours.
Maya
Junie, Lucas, me, Bea. All four.
Junie
We’re going toward the whistle. Don’t go yet.
Lucas
I’m turning round.
Maya, don’t let go while I move my foot.
Maya
I won’t.
Bea
I can’t see any of you.
Junie
You can hear me. We’re coming this way.
Bea
What if the ball turns again?
Lucas
We stop and find the whistle again.
Maya
Nobody moves till we know.
Lucas
Ready.
Maya
Bea. Tell us when.
Bea
Not yet.
Maya
Okay.
Bea
Now.
Junie
This way. Little steps.
Lucas
It’s moving!
Maya
Keep holding.
Junie
The light’s wider. I can see my fingers.
Bea
Is it really outside?
Junie
I can hear the other kids. They’re by the flagpole.
Lucas
One more step. Together.
Junie
Grass! I can touch the grass!
Bea
Wait. My foot.
Maya
Come on, Bea, we’re nearly
Bea
Maya. Wait.
Lucas
The hole’s getting smaller.
The Many
Pull.
Maya
Everybody stop. Bea’s not ready.
Junie
We’re right here!
Maya
I know. Stop pulling.
Bea. What do you need?
Bea
Room. I have to bend my knee. Something’s round my boot.
Maya
I’m stepping back to you. Junie, can you hold?
Junie
I’ve got the grass. I’m holding.
Lucas
I’ll keep hold of you, Maya.
Bea
A bit more. That’s it.
Now.
Junie
Toward my voice. Here we go.
Lucas
Maya, your hand’s slipping.
Maya
Hold my sleeve. I’ve still got Bea.
Junie
Lucas is out!
Lucas
Maya. This way.
Maya
Bea, I’m right here.
Bea
I know.
Maya
Can you feel my sleeve?
Bea
Yes.
Maya
Keep hold of it. I’m keeping hold of you.
Bea
I’m out.
The way back
Ms. Okafor
Maya? Bea? There you are. I heard you calling. Is everyone all right?
Maya
Junie. Lucas. Bea. Me. All four.
Ms. Okafor
Good. Come and sit here a moment.
Bea
There were ants.
Ms. Okafor
I can see them in the grass. Have any bitten you?
Bea
No.
Lucas
They carried us.
Ms. Okafor
That sounds frightening. Catch your breath. I’m right here.
Junie
There’s the basket. Where we dropped it.
Bea
My feather’s still there.
Maya
We can get it.
Bea
Everybody else has finished.
Maya
I know.
Bea
You said we’d get another one.
Maya
You wanted that one.
Bea
Can you hold the basket still?
Maya
Yes.
Bea
Wait. The point’s under a leaf.
Maya
I’m waiting.
Junie
Red leaf.
Lucas
Smooth stone. I’ll put it at this end.
Bea
We haven’t got M.
Junie
Look at your knees.
Bea
Oh. Mud.
Maya
We’ve got loads of M.
Leo
So you lost?
Maya
We came very last.
Leo
You hate coming last.
Maya
I didn’t that time.
There’s a rule about being on a team. Everyone knows it. Even Moose knows it. You can’t pull together if you don’t listen to each other.
Leo
Is that the feather? On your desk?
Maya
Yes.
Leo
It’s moving.
Maya
Two ants. They’re pulling it different ways.
Leo
It’s stopped.
Maya
Here comes another one.
Leo
Maya?
Maya
Yes?
Leo
I’m just moving my socks.
Maya
See you next time. In the fog.