Maria stared at the classroom door, her backpack feeling heavier than usual. It was her first day at Riverside Elementary, and she didn't know anyone. Her family had just moved to town, and Maria missed her old friends terribly. She took a deep breath and walked into the classroom.
"Class, this is Maria," Mrs. Johnson announced with a warm smile. "She's joining us from Miami. Maria, you can sit next to Emma." Maria walked to her new seat, feeling all eyes on her. Emma smiled and whispered, "Hi! I like your backpack." Maria smiled back, feeling a little bit better.
At recess, Maria sat alone on a bench, watching the other kids play. She wanted to join them but felt too nervous to ask. Suddenly, Emma appeared with a jump rope. "Want to play? We need a third person for double dutch." Maria hesitated, then nodded. "I've never tried double dutch before," she admitted quietly.
"That's okay! We'll teach you," Emma said cheerfully. Two other girls, Lily and Sofia, joined them. At first, Maria kept missing the ropes and felt embarrassed. But the girls were patient and encouraging. "You're getting better!" Lily cheered when Maria finally jumped three times without stopping. Maria laughed, feeling proud of herself.
When the bell rang, Emma walked back to class with Maria. "Want to sit with us at lunch tomorrow?" she asked. Maria's face lit up. "I'd love that!" As they entered the classroom, Maria realized that her new school might not be so scary after all. Sometimes all it takes is one kind person to help you feel like you belong.