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Wearing a red t-shirt and blue jeans, Matthew scowls at the breakfast table, fists clenched beside an empty plate, as he yells at his mom. Morning light streams through a kitchen window. His expression is furious and demanding.
Matthew woke up grumpy, scowling and mad. He stomped his feet, acting quite bad. 'I want pancakes now!' he loudly demanded, never saying 'please' as he should've. His mom sighed, 'Kind words matter too,' but Matthew huffed, 'I don't care, that's true!' He grabbed his bag without a goodbye, ignoring his sister's cheerful 'Have a nice day!' Out the door went Matthew, sour as pie.
Dressed in a red t-shirt and blue jeans, Matthew stands alone on the playground, holding a red kickball under a cloudy sky, looking down with a sad, regretful expression after his friend walked away.
At recess, Matthew wanted to play ball. He pushed his friend and made him fall. 'Give me that ball!' he yelled out mean, forgetting manners, cross and keen. His friend frowned and walked away, saying, 'I won't play unless you say please today!' Matthew stood alone, feeling kind of sad, wondering why no one liked playing with someone so bad. He remembered his mom's gentle words so true, and wondered if kindness could help him too.
Dressed in a red t-shirt and blue jeans, Matthew smiles warmly at his friend as they toss a ball back and forth on the sunny playground. His expression is happy and polite, standing on green grass.
The next day, Matthew tried something new. He said 'Good morning!' and 'How are you?' At breakfast he asked, 'May I please have juice?' His mom smiled wide, 'What a kind use!' At recess, he asked his friend, 'Can I play too?' His friend grinned and said, 'Of course, thank you!' They laughed and played ball all afternoon, Matthew felt happy, humming a tune. No more grumpy frown upon his face, just smiles and manners in every place.
Wearing a red t-shirt and blue jeans, Matthew hugs his sister in a sunlit living room, a genuine smile on his face. Toys and a book lie on the rug nearby. His expression is kind and apologetic.
From then on, Matthew remembered to say please and thank you every single day. His family smiled, his friends played along, everyone happy, singing a song. 'Manners matter,' Matthew would say, 'They make my world brighter in every way!' No more grumpy boy, just joyful cheer, Matthew learned kindness brings people near. He hugged his sister and said sorry too, for all the grumpy things he used to do. Now mornings shine with laughter and light, Matthew's manners made everything right.