Sami and the Fort for Two

Sami stacked chairs side by side in the living room. He spread a big blue blanket across the top—it looked just like a pirate ship! 'Ahoy, Lina!' he called. 'Come join my ship! We can sail to hidden treasure!' Sami wore his favorite rust-orange sweatshirt and navy trousers, ready for adventure.

Lina hurried in, holding shiny paper stars and a cardboard telescope. She wore her sage-green sweater and blue jeans. 'Let’s pretend it’s a space station!' Lina said, hanging stars on the blanket. Sami shook his head. 'But I want a pirate ship!' Lina frowned. Neither wanted to change their plan.

Sami and Lina sat quietly on opposite sides of the half-made fort. Sami peeked at Lina’s sparkly paper stars. He remembered that sailors use stars to find their way across the sea. Maybe the stars could help his pirate ship too. He started to smile, thinking of a new idea.

'What if our ship sails through space?' Sami said. Lina’s eyes lit up. 'Yes! Let’s make a star window!' She taped a big star above the opening. Together, they slid a big cushion into the fort. 'Captain’s seat!' Lina grinned. It was wide enough for both of them to sit side by side.

Under the blue blanket and twinkling paper stars, Sami and Lina took turns peeking through the cardboard telescope. 'Look! A planet shaped like a biscuit!' Lina giggled. Sami nodded. 'Let’s make it our first stop!' Their space-pirate ship was ready for any adventure—especially together.