Milo was three. He wore his red socks and his biggest smile. Today was Picnic Day!
His big sister, Lila, held a basket. “We need snacks,” she said.
Milo puffed his cheeks. “I do snacks!”
His big brother, Ben, waved a spoon like a magic wand. “I do drinks!”
Mom peeked in. “A dingo picnic, please,” she said, smiling. “But keep it kind.”
Milo marched to the kitchen like a tiny boss. Tap-tap-tap went his feet.
Lila put out apples. Ben put out cups. Milo put out… everything.
He grabbed crackers. Plop! He grabbed bananas. Plop! He grabbed a jar of peanut butter. THUNK!
Lila blinked. “Milo! That's too much.”
“No! More!” Milo said. He hugged the jar. It was almost bigger than his head.
Ben giggled. “Careful, Captain Crackers.”
Milo frowned. “Ben is giggle-ing at me.”
“I'm not giggle-ing at you,” Ben said. “I'm giggle-ing with you.”
Milo tried to pour juice into the cups. Glug-glug—oops! The juice went on the table.
Lila jumped back. “Ah! Sticky!”
Milo's eyes got wide. “Uh-oh.”
Mom handed him a cloth right away. “No worries. Wipe-wipe.”
Milo wiped. Lila wiped. Ben wiped. Wipe-wipe-wipe! Soon the table was clean again.
“Team work,” Ben said.
Milo nodded. “Team work!”
Now it was time to pack the basket. Lila said, “Apples in first.”
Milo said, “Crackers on top!”
Ben said, “Cups last!”
They all spoke at once. “First!” “Top!” “Last!”
Milo stomped one foot. “My way!”
Lila crossed her arms. “My way!”
Ben made a silly serious face. “My way!”
They stared at each other. The basket stared back. The basket looked very tired.
Then Milo made a tiny squeak. “Eep.”
Ben answered with a loud “BEEP!”
Lila added “BOOP!”
Milo snorted. “Pfffft!”
Ben did a funny chicken sound. “Bok-bok!”
Lila wiggled her elbows. “Flap-flap!”
Milo tried to copy her. His elbows went everywhere. “Flap… flup!”
They all burst out laughing. Ha-ha-ha! Even Mom laughed from the doorway.
“Okay,” Lila said, still giggling. “New plan. We take turns.”
“Me first?” Milo asked.
“You first,” Ben said.
Milo put in apples very gently. “One… two… three.”
Lila added crackers. “Crunchy friends!”
Ben tucked in cups and a little water bottle. “Sip-sip!”
Milo tried to add the giant peanut butter jar again. “For… dingo?”
Lila smiled. “A small one, Captain.”
They picked a tiny jar instead. Milo hugged it like a teddy bear.
Outside, they spread a blanket on the grass. The sun felt warm. A breeze went whoosh-whoosh.
Milo took a bite of apple. Crunch! “Best picnic!”
Ben clinked cups. “Cheers!”
Lila leaned close. “Next time, we can be even ding-ier.”
Milo grinned. “Ding-o!” And the three siblings giggled together, cozy and happy.
