4th Apr 2025
Vladimir was nervous. He was transferring to a new school and did not know anyone. "Will they like me?" he thought. His mom said, "Just be yourself!" When he walked into the school, he saw kids laughing and playing. He took a deep breath and said, "Hi! I'm Vladimir!" Some kids smiled, but others looked away. It made him feel sad.
At lunch, he met a boy named Mark. Mark was funny and made Vladimir laugh. "Let's be friends!" said Mark. Vladimir felt happy. But then he heard whispers, "Why is Mark hanging out with him?" Some kids were jealous. They plotted to make things hard for Vladimir. But with Mark by his side, Vladimir knew he could face anything.
The next day, Vladimir walked into the classroom and saw Mark waving. "Over here!" Mark called out. As Vladimir sat down, he noticed the other kids still whispering. But he remembered Mark's words, "Let them see how cool you are, Vlad!" So, Vladimir just smiled and waved back, feeling a little braver each time.
During recess, Mark and Vladimir played on the swings. They took turns pushing each other higher and higher. Some kids joined them, curious about the new game they were playing. Vladimir laughed and shouted, "Higher, Mark!" Soon, everyone wanted to play too, and the whispers were replaced by giggles and cheers.
By the end of the day, Vladimir felt different. He learned that being himself was the best way to make friends. As he walked home with Mark, he said, "I was so scared, but today was fun!" Mark nodded and said, "We did it together!" And Vladimir knew he was not alone anymore.
