The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, casting playful shadows on the living room floor. Twelve-year-old Max sat cross-legged on the plush, well-worn carpet, his brow furrowed in concentration. His family lounged around him—his younger sister, Lily, was sprawled on the couch watching cartoons, while his parents exchanged stories about their day over steaming mugs of coffee.
Max had a plan, and his excitement was palpable. He’d