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Jalen stands in the kindergarten classroom doorway clutching a small backpack, morning light from windows illuminating colorful posters and tiny desks.
Jalen walked quietly into his new kindergarten class, holding his backpack tightly. He didn’t know anyone yet.
Jalen sits alone on a rug beside toy bins inside the bright classroom, mid-morning sunlight through blinds; he picks at an untied shoelace while other kids build blocks together across the room.
Jalen watched the other kids playing but no one asked him to join. He picked at his shoelace and felt lonely.
In the story-time corner of the classroom, soft afternoon light falls as Mia sits cross-legged beside Jalen on a blue mat, smiling and extending a hand while an open picture book rests on the teacher’s chair behind them.
A girl named Mia sat next to Jalen during story time. She smiled and said, “Hi, I’m Mia! Want to be friends?”
At a cafeteria table under bright fluorescent lights, Mia slides a packet of star-shaped crackers toward Jalen, who holds his lunchbox and smiles shyly; milk cartons and chatting kids fill the background.
At lunch, Mia shared her crackers with Jalen. Jalen smiled and whispered, “Thank you.”
On the sunny playground, Mia pushes Jalen on a blue swing; both laugh as their shadows stretch across wood chips and another empty swing sways lightly nearby.
During recess, Mia invited Jalen to play on the swings. He giggled as they took turns swinging high.
Near the jungle gym under bright sun, two classmates face Mia with puzzled looks while Jalen stands a few steps behind holding the swing chain; Mia frowns slightly, arms crossed protectively.
Some kids saw Mia playing with Jalen and asked, “Why do you play with him? He’s weird.” Mia frowned.
At the same playground spot with sunlight filtered through leaves, Mia gestures toward Jalen while speaking calmly; he watches from the swing as the two classmates listen, hands at their sides.
Mia said, “Jalen is just different. He likes quiet and sometimes needs time alone, but he’s really nice.”
Under the shade of a maple tree, Mia kneels to explain, hands open, while the same two classmates lean forward interested; Jalen stands a few steps away holding the swing chain in warm afternoon light.
Mia told the kids, “Jalen has something called autism. That means he sometimes does things differently.”
On an open grassy field in late afternoon sun, the two classmates smile at Jalen asking to play; Mia stands beside him nodding as Jalen clutches a red block, eyes bright.
The kids asked, “Can we play with Jalen too?” Mia nodded and smiled at Jalen, who looked hopeful.
Inside the classroom on a colorful carpet lit by ceiling lamps, Jalen arranges neat rows of red, blue, and yellow blocks while Mia and two classmates kneel opposite copying his pattern; a tub of remaining blocks sits open nearby.
Everyone tried playing Jalen’s favorite game, lining up blocks by color. Jalen laughed and shared his blocks.
At the school entrance during sunset, warm orange light pours through glass doors; Jalen waves goodbye with a wide grin as Mia and several classmates wave back near cubbies lined with backpacks.
At the end of the day, Jalen had many new friends. He waved goodbye, feeling happy and included.
On a quiet suburban sidewalk in golden dusk, Jalen and Mia walk side by side carrying small backpacks; Jalen whispers with head tilted toward Mia while she smiles broadly beneath the first street-lamp glow.
Jalen and Mia walked home together. Jalen whispered, “Thank you, Mia,” and Mia grinned, “Friends help friends!”