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Sophia stood staring out her window.   Her next 

door neighbor, old Mr. Henry, was watering his 

flowers.   He waved to Mr. and Mrs. Kittle as they 

walked their dog.   Across the street, Jimmy Kent 

was mowing his lawn.   It was quiet as usual.

Just then, Sophia heard a loud, rumbling noise as an 

enormous moving truck came into view and turned into 

the driveway right across the street.

Sophia watched as a family piled out of the truck.   First a 

mom stepped out.   Then a little boy.   Then the weirdest girl 

Sophia had ever seen.   She wore a funny hat and a strange 

looking dress, and she just stood on the lawn spinning in 

circles.  

As she stared at the girl, Sophia’s 

mom came into the room.  

“We’ve got some new neighbors, 

sweetie,” she said.   “Why don’t you 

go over there and say hello?   She 

looks just about your age.” 

Sophia watched the girl spin and 

shook her head. “No way, mom. She 

looks super weird.”

Her mom tipped her head a bit and 

said, “Okay, but remember, it’s 

probably hard being the new kid in 

town.

 Sophia looked back outside.   The girl had stopped spinning 

and had started making snow angel motions in the warm 

grass.  

Sophia couldn’t help but notice that her face looked a little 

sad.

Her mom’s words tugged at her. It probably was scary being 

the new kid.  

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to 

just say hello. It’s not like that 

means we have to be best friends 

or anything.”

Sophia stood up, smoothed her skirt, and walked carefully 

down the stairs.   She looked out the front door as her mom 

smiled behind her. 

She pushed it open and walked across the street.  

“Hi,” she said quietly to the girl.   “My name is Sophia.” 

“I’m Joanie!” the girl said, almost yelling.   “Nice to meet you!”

Joanie had moved back toward the moving truck and was pulling out a giant 

sheet and some paint.   She put the sheet flat on the grass, poured some paint 

on her hands, clapped them together, and started painting.  

“Grab some paint and help!” she said to Sophia.

Sophia looked around.   She didn’t want her neighbors to think she was weird, 

and she certainly didn’t want to get paint all over herself.  

“No thanks,” she said and walked back across the street.

Her mom met her at the door.   “I’m so proud of you for 

introducing yourself, Soph!   She seems like such a nice girl.” 

“Mom,” Sophia said, “She is painting a sheet with her hands and 

getting so messy!   It’s weird!” 

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