The classroom was bright and warm. Sunlight poured through tall windows. Rows of empty desks waited for the children.
Maya stood at the classroom door. She gripped her backpack straps tight. Her sneakers stayed stuck to the floor.
A girl with braids bounced on her heels. She held up a glittery star sticker. 'Look! It shines!' Maya shook her head.
The sticker fell. It spiraled down and landed between Maya's shoes. 'Oops,' the girl said.
Maya stared at the star. She bent down, fingers trembling, and picked it up. The sticky side pressed against her palm.
She looked up. The girl with braids was smiling, waiting.
'You dropped this,' Maya whispered. The girl took the sticker and handed back a rocket sticker. 'For being brave.'
Maya's shoulders dropped. She clipped the rocket to her backpack zipper. The classroom door swung open behind her.
Maya stepped into the classroom. She found an empty desk and pulled out a chair.
The girl with braids sat beside her. She opened a sticker sheet. 'Dragon, star, rocket, moon,' she counted.
'What should we make?' the girl asked. Maya pointed to a blank page. 'A story,' she said.
'A sticker story!' the girl grinned. They started drawing, their pencils scratching softly.