In the first-grade classroom, there were cheerful sounds of laughter everywhere. Everyone gathered in small groups, happily sharing their new backpacks that they had just bought.
Xia You sat on a wooden chair, tightly gripping the edge of her skirt with both hands. She could only lower her head and stare at the tips of her shoes, too shy to say a word.
Her short-haired desk mate was focused on drawing. Suddenly, she stopped and made a loud noise as she rummaged through her pencil case.
The desk mate frowned deeply, irritably tossing aside her red and yellow pens, mumbling softly as she searched for a green marker.
Xia You quietly glanced at her desk mate, then looked down at her own pencil case. There lay a brand new green marker, waiting patiently.
The desk mate anxiously ran her fingers through her hair. Xia You curiously looked over and saw that the drawing paper had a big, fat pig missing its wings.
Gathering her courage, Xia You slowly reached out her small hand and pushed the green marker little by little across the gap in the desk.
“Here... here’s a marker for you to draw the pig's wings,” she swallowed hard and said in a very soft voice.
The desk mate was taken aback for a moment, then broke into a sweet smile. Xia You noticed that she was missing a front tooth.
She took the marker and quickly drew green wings, even pushing the drawing paper over to color together. Just then, the school bell rang, and Xia You finally relaxed her tightly clenched hands.
