Milo stood at the school doorway. His red backpack was too big. The doors opened and noise rushed out.
He kicked at a loose tile. It wobbled. The noise swirled around him like a storm.
A teacher knelt beside him. She held out a bright yellow crayon. 'Would you like this?' she asked.
Milo took the crayon. He walked to the longest table. His backpack bumped his knees with each step.
He sat at the table. The chair squeaked. A girl with pigtails looked up from her coloring.
He opened his backpack. The zipper got stuck. Inside, only one red crayon lay waiting.
'I have extra,' the girl said. She slid a red crayon across the table. A gap showed where her tooth used to be.
Their crayons tapped together like a tiny drum. Milo's shoulders dropped. His backpack felt lighter.
Milo colored a big yellow sun beside the girl's drawing. The classroom buzzed, but it sounded warm now.
The noise around them grew steady and warm. Milo didn't mind anymore.
The girl pushed a blue crayon toward Milo. He took it, ready to keep going.
Milo colored a blue bird next to the sun. The day felt new and bright.