Mateo stood at the school door. His backpack felt heavier than ever. The classroom hummed with shouting and chair-scraping.
The air smelled like new crayons. He pressed his shoes against the threshold and wouldn't step inside.
Mateo crept along the wall. He peeked at clusters of children playing with blocks and reading books.
Every table was full, and he kept walking, hands fidgeting with his backpack strap.
Mateo spotted an empty chair near the window, sunlight warm on the wooden seat. He reached for the back of it—
—then a boy slides into the chair with a whoop, and Mateo's hand closes on empty air.
A girl at the next table caught Mateo's eye and waved both arms wildly, her sandwich slipping off her plate. 'Over here!' she called, pointing at the empty seat beside her.
Mateo walks over and slides into the chair.
The girl pushes half her sandwich toward him and grins. 'I'm Lena,' she says.
Mateo smiles back, and their new friendship begins.
