Context

Max and Leo are the best of friends. They spend all their time after school with each other, and you never see one of them without the other nearby. 

But even they struggle to understand each other sometimes. One day after school, they go to the meadow to play soccer and get into a fight.

Miscommunication

Max and Leo were playing soccer in the park. Max kicked the ball really hard, and it rolled far away into some bushes.

“Leo, can you go get the ball?” Max asked.

Leo ran over and found the ball hiding in the bushes. He thought, “I should kick it back to Max so we can keep playing!”

But Max didn’t want him to kick it. He wanted Leo to pick it up and carry it back. Leo didn’t know that.

So, Leo kicked the ball really hard, aiming at Max. But it went way too high and got stuck up in a tall tree!

Max frowned and stomped his foot. “I told you not to kick it!” he yelled.

Leo looked confused. “But I thought you said to get it and kick it!”

Max shook his head, feeling upset. “No, I said just bring it to me!”

Leo realized he had made a mistake. “Oh… I thought you wanted me to kick it to you.”

Max looked up at the ball, stuck high in the tree. “Now it’s stuck!” he shouted.

Max was so mad about the soccer ball he left Leo in the park and stomped his feet all the way home.

Max and Leo got mixed up because they didn’t effectively communicate. Which led to not fully understanding each other. Max wanted Leo to carry the ball back and assumed Leo would know this, but Leo assumed Max wanted him to kick it.

Max didn’t say exactly what he meant, and Leo didn’t ask Max to ensure he understood. This mix-up is why the ball got stuck in the tree!

What to do differently: Questioning

If you’re ever unsure, It's best to ask questions so everyone knows what to do. That way, everyone can play happily without problems!

Now, in the next story, we will show you how that day could have gone if Max had made sure to explain what he wanted and Leo had asked Max questions if he was unsure.