Leo stood alone by the green lawn. Other kids played tag nearby. He gripped his backpack straps and whispered, "I wish for a brave friend."
A tall boy in a blue shirt stopped nearby. "I'm brave," he said with a big smile. "Want to play?"
The tall boy led Leo to the big slide. Leo's sneakers scuffed the grass and he wouldn't move. "I'm too scared," he said.
The tall boy took his hand. "I'm right here," he said softly.
At the top of the slide, Leo peeked over. His hands gripped the cold metal. "It's so tall," he thought.
The tall boy pointed down at the soft green grass. A butterfly fluttered past and landed on Leo's knee. He held very still.
Suddenly, a loud BARK shook the playground! A big dog charged toward them.
The tall boy stepped in front of Leo. "I'm right here," he said firmly. The dog stopped, wagged its tail, and sat.
Leo burst out laughing. "That was a silly dog!"
Leo and the tall boy slid down together, shoulder to shoulder. They tumbled into the grass and high-fived.
"You're the best brave friend," Leo said. The warm sun glowed gold on their faces as they walked back to class.
They walked back to class, hand in hand. Leo smiled. He had found exactly what he wished for.