Milo gripped his backpack straps at the school gate. The bell rang. Everything looked so big.
The bell rang loud. The swing set creaked. Milo pressed his back against the metal bar.
A blue crayon rolled across the path. It stopped right at Milo's sneakers.
Milo knelt to pick it up. A girl with a pink backpack appeared beside him.
She asked his name. Milo whispered it back, fingers curled around the crayon.
The girl grinned and took Milo's hand. They stood together at the big doors.
He looked at the crayon, then at the doors. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
Milo pushed the doors open. He stepped into the bright hallway together with her. The bell rang again — this time it sounded like a welcome.