Story 1
The Red Backpack
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It was the first day of September. The leaves on the trees near the school were still green. Children walked through the big gates with new bags and clean shoes.
A girl named Mia stood near the school door. She had a red backpack on her shoulders. It was too big for her. She looked at the other children. They were talking and laughing. Mia did not know anyone here.
Her family moved to this town three weeks ago. Her old school was far away. Her old friends were far away too. Mia took a deep breath and walked inside.
The classroom was bright and warm. There were drawings on the walls. A tall woman with short brown hair smiled at the children. «Good morning, everyone. I am Mrs. Bell. Welcome to our class.»
Mia sat at a desk near the window. A boy with dark curly hair sat next to her. He looked at her red backpack. «That is a really big bag,» he said.
Mia looked down. «I know. My mum said I will grow into it.»
The boy laughed. It was a nice laugh, not a mean one. «I am Sam,» he said. «Is this your first day here?»
«Yes,» Mia said quietly.
«It is okay. I was new last year. The first week is always strange. But then it gets better.»
Mrs. Bell gave everyone a small blue notebook. «Today we will write about our summer,» she said. «Just one page. Write what you remember best.»
Mia opened her notebook. She thought about the summer. She thought about her old garden with the apple tree. She thought about her cat, Biscuit, sleeping on the warm steps. She started to write.
After twenty minutes, Mrs. Bell said, «Who wants to read their story?»
Nobody moved. The room was very quiet. Then Sam raised his hand. He stood up and read about fishing with his grandfather at a lake. He caught a very small fish. His grandfather said it was the best fish he ever saw. Everyone laughed.
«Very good, Sam,» Mrs. Bell said. «Who is next?»
Mia looked at her notebook. Her hands were cold. She did not want to read. But then she thought about what Sam said. The first week is strange, but then it gets better.
She raised her hand slowly.
«Yes, Mia. Please go ahead.»
Mia stood up. Her voice was very quiet at first. She read about her old garden. She read about Biscuit and the apple tree. She read about the day they packed everything into a big truck.
«I was sad to leave,» she read. «But my mum said that new places bring new friends. I did not believe her then.»
She stopped. She looked at Sam. He was smiling.
«I think maybe she was right,» Mia added. It was not in her notebook. She just said it.
The class was quiet for a moment. Then Mrs. Bell smiled. «That was lovely, Mia. Thank you.»
At lunchtime, Sam walked to Mia. «Do you want to sit with me and my friend Leo?» he asked.
«Yes, please,» Mia said.
They sat at a long wooden table in the school hall. Leo was a short boy with glasses and a big smile. He talked a lot. He told Mia about the park near the school, the library on Green Street, and the bakery that made chocolate rolls every Friday.
«You have to try the chocolate rolls,» Leo said seriously. «They are the best thing about this town.»
Mia smiled. «I will.»
After lunch, they played in the schoolyard. It was warm and the sky was very blue. Mia ran with Sam and Leo. She was still carrying her big red backpack because she forgot to leave it inside.
«Your backpack is running too,» Sam said. They all laughed.
When school finished, Mia walked home slowly. The streets were new but not so scary now. She knew the name of the park. She knew the way to the bakery on Green Street.
Her mum was waiting by the door. «How was your first day?» she asked.
Mia put down her big red backpack. «It was good,» she said. «I think you were right. New places do bring new friends.»
Her mum hugged her. «I am glad,» she said quietly.
That evening, Mia wrote in her blue notebook again. Not for school. Just for herself.
«Today I was scared,» she wrote. «But I raised my hand anyway. And everything changed.»
She closed the notebook and put it inside her red backpack. Tomorrow it would not feel so heavy.
New Words
backpack — a bag you carry on your back
moved — went to live in a new place
breath — air you take in and let out
curly — hair that goes in round shapes
strange — new and a little unusual
notebook — a small book for writing
raised — lifted up
quietly — in a soft, low voice
lovely — very nice and beautiful
scared — feeling afraid
believe — to think something is true
bakery — a shop that makes bread and cakes
Comprehension Questions
1. Why was Mia standing alone near the school door?
2. What did Sam say to Mia about being new?
3. What did Mia write about in her blue notebook?
4. Who did Mia sit with at lunchtime?
5. Why did Mia say the backpack would not feel so heavy tomorrow?
Talk About It
▸ Were you ever new at a place? How did you feel?
▸ What can you do to help a new person in your class?
▸ Do you think it is hard to be brave? Why?
