One Step Before Tomorrow — A Picture Story

That evening, Adam’s school bag lay open on the floor. Out came a blue notebook, a box of crayons and a library book. “I hope tomorrow morning is easy,” Adam said. “I don’t want to search for my things.”

He tried to close the bag with everything piled on top, but the zip would not move. He pushed in the library book and bent its cover. Adam took it out and smoothed the cover with his hand.

“Which thing do we know you will need?” Mum asked. Adam looked at the little pile. “I will need the blue notebook,” he said.

“Then we can prepare one thing,” Mum said. “It is one possible step, not a promise that everything will go our way.” Adam closed the crayon box and put it on the shelf.

Adam wiped the notebook cover and slipped it into the large pocket. He set the library book beside the bag so he could return it. Then he closed the zip slowly and placed the bag by the door.

In the morning, Adam could not find his left sock, but the blue notebook was ready in his bag. He picked up the library book and left without searching under the table. “I could not control the whole morning,” he said, “but I took one step before it arrived.”