Blue-gray evening light spread over the grass as Sam opened the notebook and drew a new map, slower this time. Earth first. Then the long stretch. Then dinosaurs, birds, and one small family at the edge, standing together. “It fits now,” Sam said, tapping the page. Ren smiled and set his chalky hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Step by step works for big things.”

Grandma Noor nodded at a blackbird on the fence. “And the big story is still going.”

“With us in it,” Mina said. Sam smiled.