Hi! I’m Maia, and this morning was FUN.

Me and my big sister Melody built block towers almost as tall as us.
Hers wiggled but didn’t fall. How does she do that?

Mine crashed first, but Melody didn’t tease me.
She never does that.

I help her too — that’s what we do.
I find her glasses when they run away,
and she fixes my breakfast and lets me sleep in her room when I’m scared.

Today isn’t just regular. It’s really big and special.

I’m going to Melody’s school.

Kindergarten. I start tomorrow. 

I didn’t tell my sister I was nervous, I never have to.
Melody knows how I feel just by looking at me.

When Melody saw my nervous feelings growing, she smiled.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I have a plan.
Today is just us. A fun day.”

Her glasses sparkled. That’s how I know she’s excited.

The sun felt warm and tickly.
The air smelled like grass and adventure.

Melody tightened the laces on her glowing roller skates.

“Come on,” she said. “Magic works better when we play first.”

Melody took off so fast I barely blinked. Her skates lit the ground with tiny sparkles. I got so excited watching her that I felt my own magic waking up.

When my feelings get big, my body gets floaty.

I don’t mean to fly — it just happens!

I grabbed my magic blanket from my backpack. It helps me soar safely.

Melody always helps me land. 

If I want a smooth landing, I have to calm my body, breathe slow, and reach for her hand. We got to the playground. Usually we stay on the little-kid side. But today, Melody pointed to the big-kid side, and we headed that way. 

“The jungle gym at my school looks just like this,” she said.
“All the big kids play there at recess.” 

“All you have to do is climb to the top,” she said.
“Go slow. Stay focused. Come back down the same way.”

“Can you do it?” 

I nodded. “I think so.”

I climbed almost to the top when I shouted,
“Hey! What’s recess?!”

Melody laughed. “It’s the best part of the day! After class and lunch, everyone plays.”

Playtime. Every day?

That made my feelings so BIG
that my body zoomed again —
and WHOOSH!

I was floating in the air.

“Playtime every day!” Melody called.

“Why didn’t you tell me school was fun?” I asked.

“I didn’t want you to feel sad when I left,” she said softly.

She knew I got lonely sometimes.

“I thought school was only work and standing in line,” I said.

Melody giggled. “There’s work, yes. But you get rewards and you learn how to do amazing things.”