The path was thick with autumn leaves. Up ahead, the schoolhouse windows glowed warm yellow.
Pip held tight to his mother's paw. A red leaf landed on his nose. "I don't want to go," he whispered.
Pip crept into the classroom and—SNAP! He stepped on a dry twig. Every head turned toward him.
Pip blushed and scurried to the back row. There, a squirrel sat alone, staring at a blank piece of paper.
Pip tried to walk over, but his spikes caught on his sweater. He tugged free—but the squirrel was already smiling at someone else.
Pip reached into his backpack and pulled out his red crayon—the one he saved for last. He held it out.
His hand trembled, but he didn't pull it back. The squirrel's eyes widened. He took the crayon. "Thank you," he whispered.
The squirrel drew two hedgehogs under a big tree and slid the paper across. The bell rang.
Pip looked from the drawing to the squirrel's smile. The squirrel grabbed Pip's paw. "Want to share my apple?"
Pip nodded. The squirrel broke the apple in two and handed him the bigger half.
