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Morning sunlight filters into a tidy bedroom where a shy boy with short brown hair stands beside his neatly laid-out school uniform, while his smiling mother with curly hair embraces him reassuringly.
Marcus stared at his new school uniform laid out on his bed. His tummy felt full of butterflies. Today was his first day at Riverside Elementary. He had just moved to town and didn't know anyone. Marcus slowly got dressed, wondering if the other kids would like him. His mom smiled warmly and gave him a big hug. "You're going to do great," she said. Marcus tried to smile back, but his hands felt shaky. He took a deep breath.
Inside a bright classroom doorway, Carena Ennis kneels to eye level, her green eyes warm under morning fluorescent light, as a shy boy with short brown hair clutches his backpack straps, unsure but listening.
The classroom was bright and colorful. Mrs. Ennis stood at the door with kind green eyes and a warm smile. Her red hair was neat and tidy. "Welcome, Marcus! I'm so happy you're in my class," she said cheerfully. Marcus mumbled a quiet hello. Mrs. Ennis bent down to his level. "I know first days can feel scary. But I promise, by lunchtime you'll feel right at home." Her voice was gentle and reassuring. Marcus nodded, feeling just a tiny bit better.
Sunlight streams through a classroom window onto an empty desk where a shy boy with short brown hair lines up pencils, while Zoe at a neighboring table waves brightly, other chatting children blurred behind them.
Mrs. Ennis led Marcus to an empty desk near the window. All around him, kids were chatting and laughing with their friends. Marcus sat down and looked at his hands. He felt very alone. A girl at the next table waved at him, but Marcus was too nervous to wave back. He opened his pencil case and arranged his pencils in a straight line. Maybe if he stayed quiet, nobody would notice him. That felt safer somehow.
On the colorful classroom rug beneath cozy overhead lights, Zoe scoots aside to make space, smiling, as a shy boy with short brown hair settles nervously beside her, surrounded by shelves of picture books.
After morning announcements, Mrs. Ennis called everyone to the reading corner. Marcus walked slowly, staying at the back of the group. All the good spots on the colorful rug were already taken. He stood there, unsure where to sit. "Here! You can sit next to me!" called a cheerful voice. A girl with braids scooted over to make room. Marcus hesitated, then carefully sat down. "I'm Zoe," she whispered with a big smile. Marcus whispered back, "I'm Marcus."
In the reading corner, Carena Ennis finishes a picture book under warm lamplight; Zoe leans toward a shy boy with short brown hair, urging him as he timidly lifts his hand halfway.
Mrs. Ennis read a funny story about a bear who was afraid of honey. Everyone giggled. When she finished, she asked questions. "Who can tell me why the bear was scared?" Hands shot up all around Marcus. He knew the answer but kept his hand down. Zoe leaned over. "Do you know?" she whispered. Marcus nodded shyly. "You should raise your hand!" Zoe encouraged. Marcus thought about it. Maybe he could be brave. Slowly, his hand went up just a little.
At the front row of desks beneath midday sunlight, a shy boy with short brown hair speaks softly while Carena Ennis beams and claps; nearby, Zoe flashes a thumb-up, classmates turning with appreciative smiles.
Mrs. Ennis's eyes lit up when she saw Marcus's hand. "Yes, Marcus! What do you think?" The whole class turned to look at him. Marcus's voice came out very quietly. "The bear thought bees were scary, so he was scared of honey too." Mrs. Ennis clapped her hands together. "Excellent answer, Marcus! That's exactly right!" Some kids smiled at him. Zoe gave him a thumbs up. Marcus felt his cheeks get warm, but it was a good feeling. He had done it!
Under bright recess sunshine on the asphalt playground, Zoe holds a red four-square ball and extends her hand to a shy boy with short brown hair standing hesitantly beside painted squares and chattering children.
The bell rang for recess. Marcus's stomach did a flip. Where would he go? What would he do? Everyone had friends to play with already. He slowly walked toward the playground. "Marcus! Wait up!" Zoe came running over with a red ball. "Do you want to play four square with me and my friends?" Marcus couldn't believe it. "Really?" he asked. "Of course! Come on!" Zoe grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the painted squares. His nervousness started to melt away.
On the sunlit playground court, a shy boy with short brown hair lunges for the bouncing red ball, while Zoe and Emma laugh nearby; the painted four-square lines and scattered leaves frame their game.
Marcus learned the four square rules quickly. He wasn't very good at first, but nobody minded. Zoe's friends, Emma and Carlos, were nice too. They all laughed when the ball bounced in a funny direction. "Nice try!" Emma called when Marcus almost made a good hit. They played until the bell rang. Walking back to class, Marcus realized he was smiling. His first day was actually turning out okay. Maybe even better than okay. It was actually kind of fun!
At a bustling cafeteria table under bright overhead lights, a shy boy with short brown hair opens his lunchbox, surprised as Zoe sets her tray beside him while Emma approaches smiling through the crowded aisles.
In the cafeteria, Marcus opened his lunchbox alone. Then Zoe appeared with her tray. "Can I sit here?" she asked. "Yes!" Marcus said, much louder than he meant to. Zoe giggled. Soon Emma and Carlos joined them too. They talked about their favorite games and TV shows. Marcus told them about his old school. Everyone listened and asked questions. By the time lunch ended, Marcus's nervous butterflies were completely gone. He had friends now. Real friends.
In the sun-dappled art room, a shy boy with short brown hair paints a bright-maned lion at a splattered table, Zoe beside him detailing a purple dolphin, while Carena Ennis leans over proudly inspecting their work.
After lunch, Mrs. Ennis announced art time. Everyone cheered. "Today we're painting our favorite animals," she explained, passing out paper and brushes. Marcus loved to draw! He carefully painted a lion with a big orange mane. Zoe painted a purple dolphin next to him. "That's so cool!" Zoe said, looking at his lion. "Your dolphin is awesome too," Marcus replied. They smiled at each other. Mrs. Ennis came by and praised both paintings. Marcus felt proud and happy.
Outside the school's front steps in late-afternoon glow, Carena Ennis says goodbye at the doorway while a shy boy with short brown hair waves toward Zoe, who stands by her mother's car, waving back.
The final bell rang much too soon. Mrs. Ennis asked everyone to pack up. "How was your first day, Marcus?" she asked kindly. Marcus grinned. "It was really good, Mrs. Ennis. Thank you." Outside, Zoe's mom was waiting. "See you tomorrow, Marcus!" Zoe called, waving goodbye. "See you tomorrow!" Marcus waved back excitedly. He ran to find his mom, bursting with stories to tell. His first day had been scary at first, but it turned into the best day.
Soft lamplight bathes the cozy bedroom as a shy boy with short brown hair lies beneath patterned blankets, while his smiling mother with curly hair sits beside him, mid-tuck, listening to his excited bedtime stories.
That night, Marcus told his mom everything. He talked about Mrs. Ennis, his new friends, the four square game, and art class. His mom listened with a happy smile. "I'm so proud of you for being brave," she said, tucking him into bed. Marcus thought about tomorrow. He wasn't nervous anymore. He couldn't wait to go back to school and see his friends again. As he drifted off to sleep, Marcus smiled. Starting a new school had been scary, but making friends made it a day he'd always remember.