Sophia's mother's only reprieve came when Sophia paused to fill her lungs again. And such large loud lungs she had for a little girl. Rearmed, Sophia screamed again with all her might. She failed and twisted her wrist away from her mother's grip and crumpled to the pavement outside the toy store.

People passed by the scene, trying not to stare, many of them entering a door next to the toy store which led to a yoga studio above. As Sophia wailed, her mother stood there remaining calm and composed, rocking Sophia's infant brother in a sling across her chest. He could not understand what was going on. Sophia's brother was too small to know what wonderful toys lay inside, and to appreciate Sophia's ire at having to leave to go home for a nap.

The yogis above the toy store unrolled their mats and could hear Sophia from the street below. Even as they started stretching and preparing for their practice, the screaming went on.

If Sophia had anything, it was endurance and perseverance. Committed to her cause, she was intent on protesting the unjust way her mother dragged her out of the toy store until she had no more fight left in her. It didn't matter she had plenty of toys at home and had just received new ones from Santa two days earlier.

The yogis took deep calming breaths and sent small prayers up for Sophia's mother's sake that her daughter would finally relent and let her mother take her home. 

Slowly the sobs subsided. The yogis entered deep meditation. Sophia's mother pulled her up from the sidewalk and led her by the hand.

"Time to go home, sweetheart."