Rhinestone-Covered Shoes Anonymous

It was the first day of third grade at Oakville Christian School. Like every year, I was excited to meet my new teacher, see my old friends, and make new friends. For six children in our class, however, the first day of school was much more nerve-wracking. They were new kids, entering into a school where half the class had known each other since kindergarten - if not preschool. As they entered the classroom, the rest of us looked curiously upon them. I noticed one girl, slight of build even for an eight-year-old, with short, straight dark hair, making her way towards the table at which I was already sitting. She took the seat across from me. I tried to remember everything my mom had told me the day before about being friendly to the new kids. "I really like your shoes," I said, pointing to her loafers adorned with different colored rhinestones. I actually did like them.

"Thanks," she said, almost too softly to be heard.

"So what did you do this summer?" I asked, trying to put myself into the girl's rhinestone-covered shoes and think of something worthwhile to ask her.

"I went swimming and played with my dogs and saw my little cousins," she replied, not quite as softly as before but still...