The classroom door swung open with a loud CLACK before Pipkin could touch the handle. Bright paper stars fluttered from the doorway. Inside, children’s voices buzzed and chair legs scraped. The teacher knelt beside Pipkin. “We can take one step together.”
Pipkin placed one shoe across the threshold. Then a rolling globe bumped the doorstop and spun past. Pipkin pulled the shoe back and gripped the backpack strap. “Not yet,” Pipkin whispered, while the teacher left the door open.
Pipkin tried again, following the teacher’s pointing finger toward a waiting seat. The backpack caught on the door handle. CLATTER! A pencil cup tumbled, and pencils scattered like tiny logs. The teacher reached toward the mess as Pipkin stared at the floor.
A classmate gathered three pencils and offered one to Pipkin. “You can sit by me,” the classmate said. Pipkin accepted the pencil. The waiting chair stood beside a table covered with fresh paper and sturdy crayons.
Pipkin stepped fully inside and followed the classmate to the table. Beside the classmate’s drawing, Pipkin made a careful star. One point, then another. The paper slowly filled with bright, wobbly light.
“Beanbag game!” called the teacher. Pipkin watched from the edge of the circle. Children passed the beanbag around, tap-tap, clap-clap. Pipkin kept both hands near the knees and followed every bounce with careful eyes.
Suddenly—boing! The beanbag bounced off a chair and landed on Pipkin’s head. Pipkin lifted it slowly. For one silent second, the whole circle watched. Then Pipkin laughed.
Pipkin tossed the beanbag gently to the classmate. “My turn!” Pipkin called when it came back. Around the circle it traveled, slower and steadier each time. Beside a new seat, the backpack rested beneath the open door, while the game rolled on.