At Cobb orchard press, three objects lay:
soft pad, block, and beam.
“The little bridge is finished,” said Brandon.
“But where did it begin?”

Callen watched from pumpkin side.
Lillian watched past berry landing.
The magnetic cup moved between the views.
No one changed their standing.

The ending gave the last word first:
wait before middle,
middle before start—
and start before the riddle.

Wait, middle, start—
leave the final rhyme apart.

Brandon set the soft pad down.
Callen placed the block.
Lillian moved the narrow beam
with one slow, steady stop.

The cup clicked early—clink!—and slipped
against the block’s small side.
No one laughed at Callen’s hands;
they laughed with clink’s surprise.

The clink showed where the block sat close.
The bridge still needed space.
Lillian’s slow beam placement marked
the downbeat for the next.

Wait, middle, start—
when the slow beam lands, take part.

A five-minute sprinkle dotted wood.
Still air moved no piece.
They rebuilt the low bridge wider
and held the cup at peace.

One lightweight marker crossed one time.
No child crossed the floor.
Then Brandon lifted the soft pad.
Callen took the block.

Lillian gathered the narrow beam
only after both were clear.
The slowest action kept the time
from building to the end.

The cup returned to pumpkin view.
The marker rested near.
No rhyme filled the final blank.
The floor grew clean and clear.