The hollow oak tree buzzed with loud chatter. It smelled strongly of fresh pine needles. Barnaby gripped the edge of his wooden cubby. He scuffed his paws on the floorboards, keeping his backpack pulled tightly against his side.
Rattle, rattle! A teacher shook a bright tambourine, calling everyone to the reading rug. Barnaby took one tiny step forward. Suddenly, a tall block tower crashed loudly to the floor. He stepped backward, right into the shadow of his cubby.
Just then, a squirrel burst through the door. She carried a towering pile of smooth brown acorns. Her foot caught on the woven mat. Crash! Acorns clattered and bounced across the whole room. She slumped down and burst into loud tears.
Barnaby stared at his safe cubby. Then he watched a stray acorn spin like a top right by his toes. He bent down and scooped up the cool, hard nut. Taking two careful steps into the open floor, he held it out to the sobbing squirrel.
She sniffled. She took the acorn and pointed at another one rolling under a yellow desk. Barnaby dropped to his knees, crawling across the sunny floor to chase it. He giggled loudly as a rogue acorn bounced off his nose and landed perfectly inside her basket.
"I'm Barnaby," he said, handing her the very last acorn from the pile. The squirrel wiped her eyes with a big smile. She pointed toward the colorful reading rug at the center of the room. Barnaby left his backpack safely in the cubby and walked beside his new friend.