Mia was playing in the empty park when her basketball bounced into the branches of a tall tree.

She tried jumping, but the ball was way too high.

She found a stick and poked at it — but the stick was too short.

For a minute, she thought about giving up.

Then she looked at her shoes, untied one lace, and used it to tie two sticks together.

Her homemade tool gave her just enough reach.

After a few careful pokes, the ball tumbled down.

Mia picked it up, tied her shoe again, and smiled to herself.