The school hallway stretched out with wooden floors and white walls. Far away, a small stage waited quietly.
Navaz raced up the stairs. He came around the corner — bump! Right into a girl sitting near the stage.
"Oops!" said Navaz, rubbing his nose. But she didn't move. She just stared at the floor.
He waved. Nothing. He waved both arms. Still nothing. Other kids rushed past the classroom door, laughing.
But she didn't look up. Not even when the laughter faded down the hall.
Then he saw it — a red crayon rolling on the floor. He picked it up and held it out to her.
She looked — just for a second — then shook her head no. The crayon clattered to the floor.
Navaz flopped down beside her with a sigh. He pulled out his toy truck.
He drove it along the baseboard. Zoom, zoom. She giggled. Then she giggled again.
Then she was laughing out loud, kicking her feet against the wall.
Navaz drove the truck toward her hand. She caught it and held it tight. "Thank you," she said, smiling big.
He smiled back. They sat together, watching the truck roll back and forth.