Oakley pushed open the classroom door, her tail twitching nervously. She stepped inside to the smell of crayons and the sound of laughter.
Oakley froze when she saw no one like her, her claws digging into her backpack straps. She considered turning back, but the teacher smiled and pointed to an empty chair.
Oakley took a shaky breath and walked toward it. She approached a table where three otters were drawing rivers with blue crayons.
She cleared her throat to ask if she could join, but they did not look up. Oakley's shoulders slumped and her tail drooped as she turned away.
Oakley picked up a large picture book about rivers and sat alone. She opened it to a picture of a swirling current.
The ink seemed to ripple, bubbling up to form a tiny paper boat that floated onto her lap. Oakley gasped.
Finn pointed and laughed. "It's magic!" The boat drifted toward him, and he invited Oakley to help build a fleet for the class river.
Oakley and Finn glued paper boats together, the glue sticky and warm under their paws.
The classroom river, made of blue crepe paper, was filled with their fleet.
The other otters cheered. Oakley's tail curled in a happy loop as she watched the boats float.
Her earlier nervousness was forgotten. Oakley let out a happy little chirp.
Oakley pushed open the classroom door, her tail twitching nervously. She stepped inside to the smell of crayons and the sound of laughter, but froze when she saw no one like her.