Messages we want to tell readers:

Stop Bullying

Face tough situations

Make new friends

Help others

Teamwork

Overcome problems

Hi! Let me introduce myself. I’m April— your average 4th-grade girl. My family and I are from the countryside, we moved into a new small town this week. I like my new house, it’s spacious and modern, and also, I have my very own room. I always wear my favorite sweatshirt, colored and striped socks, and glittery pants. My most recognizable feature is my brown, long, wavy, and most importantly, MESSY hair. If you see me, I probably always have twigs or dust or leaves stuck in my hair, no doubt those have been there since my latest adventure.

One early, sunny Monday, April woke up for school. She was very excited to meet her new classmates. “April, the school bus is waiting for you! Are you ready yet?” ” Coming Mom!” cried April. She sped down the stairs, rushed down the hall, grabbed her favorite grilled cheese sandwich from the kitchen, 

and ran out toward the bus.

“ Good morning,” said the bus driver. April quickly found a nice seat beside the window. She sighed with relief, “Good thing I’m on time for my first day of school” she puffed lightly. The bus slowly started the engine, and April happily waved bye to her mom, until she was a teensy small dot. April slowly leaned on the window and watched the view change with a slight but cheerful smile.

Finally, the school bus arrived at the school. April scurried off the school bus and wandered toward the school tilting her head and looking at it, full of amazement. It was very different compared to her old school. It was tall, new, and decorated with beautiful bright red bricks. She hummed to herself as she                                  skipped joyfully toward the school. 

She was looking around for her locker when she saw a teacher with a white shirt, and round glasses. She seemed pretty nice so April asked politely, “Excuse me, may you tell me where my locker is?” She grabbed her school bag tightly, feeling slightly nervous. The teacher was pleased to tell her, and she said                                        warmly, “Oh, you must be the                                                         new student.”                                                         April nodded. The                                                     teacher brought                                                       her to her locker                                                     and left.

Suddenly, April felt something hit her in the face. She winced with a frown. Yes, that was a bully. April didn’t want to make things worse, she walked quickly through the hallway and turned away from the bully. Just then, the bully shouted, “Look at the newbie!" 

April wanted to cry but also tried to look on the bright side. “This is how new school life starts, right?” she thought. Things just didn’t go well 

as she had 

planned. It went 

on, and on, and on

for the whole day.

As soon as school was over, April started crying. She was sad and rushed into a forest. She found a pond beside the woods, she looked at the water and stared at her sad reflection. She felt depressed and lonely as she thought about her life at her old school and her old friends. April cried and her tears fell into the pond. She thought, “Why am I so different from others? Why does everyone dislike me?” as she looked at the reflection. April ran back towards the road, she accidentally tripped and fell, and she rolled down the hill.

April slowly stood up realizing this was not part of the forest she recognized. She turned around and noticed that there was a house there. The house was old, there were several cracks in the walls; she realized that it was abandoned. It didn't look like a normal abandoned house, it looked creepy, like it might be haunted. She walked toward it, observing the house, hoping to find someone there. She sat down and started to cry again, "Why am I so different? I know I’m new, I know I’m weird, I know I’m messy, but why me? Why do they choose to bully me?"

April sat beside the house, thinking about what to do next. “Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.” April listened carefully. “Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.” The sound started again,  reverberating around the room. She saw an old chandelier shaking, twinkling

slightly. She saw a strange shadow that swayed its white transparent body. The shadow waved mysteriously with its pale hand, but it had shiny, blue eyes, which April would never have imagined until she had seen it with her own eyes. Her eyes sparkled in wonder, and her mouth dropped like she had seen a ghost... because at that moment, she was looking at a ghost.