The school loomed large, all glass and bright colors. Milo gripped his backpack straps at the edge of the sidewalk.
Other kids streamed through the door, laughing. Milo stood on the threshold, shoulders hunched. The teacher knelt and held out her hand.
He found an empty chair at the back and set his lunchbox down. A paper airplane sailed past his ear and landed on his head.
The teacher clapped. "Time to find a buddy for lunch!" The boy's thumb traced the buckle on his lunchbox.
At the big table, pairs of children gathered. Milo stood at the edge, feet rooted, until he saw an empty seat beside a quiet boy.
He slid into the empty seat beside the curly-haired boy. The boy's eyes went wide when he saw Milo's sandwich.
Milo broke off half his sandwich and slid it across. "Thank you," the boy whispered.
The boy whispered thank you while clutching the red lunchbox lid like a treasure. Milo sat up a little straighter.
They shared the rest of lunch, passing napkins and comparing crunchy apples. The boy laughed at something Milo said.
Milo laughed back. His red lunchbox sat open and empty between them. The classroom door was still open behind them.
Milo and his friend sat together at the big table, passing apple slices and napkins. The classroom door was open behind them.
The classroom door was still open behind them, but Milo didn't look at it once.