Leo's fingers gripped his mom's hand like a tight knot. The iron fence rattled in the wind. Clang. He didn't want to let go.
They reached the front steps. Leo dug his heels into the concrete — skreee. 'Leo, buddy,' his mom said, squeezing gently. He didn't move.
Then Leo spotted it — an empty wooden bench under a sunny tree. Golden leaves bounced in the breeze. Two kids sat on the far end, giggling.
A girl on the bench waved at him with both hands. Her rainbow sneakers kicked happily. Something shifted inside Leo. Tap. Tap. Tap. His sneaker clicked on the ground.
Leo's mom stopped and knelt down. 'You don't have to go in all by yourself,' she whispered. Leo looked at the bench, then at the door, then at his own scuffed sneaker.
Leo let go of his mom's hand. He turned and walked toward the bench. The girl scooted over and patted the empty space beside her.
Leo sat down. The wood was warm from the sun. The girl with rainbow sneakers grinned and bumped his shoulder gently with hers.
'I'm Lily,' the girl said. 'This is my favorite spot.' Leo looked at the school doors. They still looked big. But now they also looked quiet.
Leo's mom stood up and smiled. She didn't say anything. She just gave him a little wave.
Leo watched his mom walk toward the gate. Then he looked back at the bench. The girl was already pulling a book from her backpack.
'You can sit here every day,' the girl said. 'After school, too.' Leo nodded. He liked the sound of that.
The school bell rang — ding! — and kids spilled out of the big doors. Leo stood up. The girl stood up too. 'See you tomorrow?' she asked.
