Violet couldn’t sleep. Tomorrow was the day. The day Violet had been nervously anticipating all summer. The first day of school. Normally, Violet was laying in bed with eyes wide open because she was excited, not scared. Violet loved school and seeing her friends everyday. However, tomorrow she would be starting the fifth grade at a new school. A new school where she didn’t know any of the kids, teachers, or even what it looked like. Her parents had continuously reassured her that everything would be fine, and it was beginning to rub off on Violet. She was hoping everything would work out, but a part of her was worried that maybe it wouldn’t. As all these thoughts were racing through her head, Violet fell asleep, and before she knew it, she heard the BRRRING! BRRRING! of her alarm, signaling the arrival of her first day.

What if I miss the bus? What if I don't like my class? What if I don't make any...

The morning was a blur and in what felt like no time, Violet was standing outside her new school. She felt her heart thump against her chest as she surveyed all of the kids rushing into the building. Violet took a deep breath and entered, locating her classroom. She decided to sit in the middle of the room, hoping someone nice would sit next to her. However, as more students came in, Violet noticed many of them had existing friends in the class and were sitting together. Kids did sit next to Violet, but she was being completely ignored. Violet felt her face heat up. Someone starting up a conversation with her was a scenario that was looking more and more unlikely. As class began, Violet thought to herself that she must try to talk to someone or she’ll never have any friends.

This is great! I didn't know we had class together!

This year is gonna be so much fun!

Things did not go as planned...

Before lunch, Violet gained enough confidence to find a table and ask to sit with someone. When she entered the cafeteria, she noticed a group of four girls that she recognized from her class at the front of the room. She began to walk over when another girl with bright blonde hair stopped her. “Hi, I’m Sasha! We’re in the same class. You should sit with me and my friends, Ellie and Audrey, so you don’t have to sit by yourself.” Violet wasn’t going to let this opportunity escape her and eagerly agreed. She followed Sasha to a table and took note that no one else seemed to be sitting near them. One of the girls had a tangled mop of red curly hair that reminded Violet of a lion’s mane. The other bathed herself in jewelry and wore way too much eye makeup. When Violet arrived at the table, the girls looked her up and down and Violet was starting to feel hesitant about joining. Before Violet could get a word out, Sasha introduced her and the other girls began to talk.

Where is everyone else??

“Hi, I’m Ellie!” replied the girl with the mountain of hair which meant the girl with too much eye makeup was Audrey. Violet slowly began to feel her original anxiety fade as everyone started to talk about whatever was on their minds: schoolwork, sports, gossip, boys. However, Violet noticed that the girls, specifically Audrey, were being rude when talking about other people. According to them, everyone else had the ugliest clothes, bookbags, shoes, and whatever else they could point out. Violet was uncomfortable with this, but wasn’t ready to give up on her only friends. The situation didn’t improve during recess, however. The girls liked to rule the playground and anyone who got in their way would be yelled at. No one ever dared to go on the swings when they were on and all of the other kids made sure to stay out of their way. Violet was beginning to wonder whether she had made the right choice by staying with these girls.

I'm sorry, I just wanted a turn

Can't you see that we're using the swings?1

As the week continued, things did not improve. If anything, they became worse. Because Violet was always with Sasha, Ellie, and Audrey no one else wanted to associate with her. There was always an empty seat next to her on the bus and everyone seemed scared to talk to her in school. However, one day during recess a boy came over near the girls to grab a jump rope. Ellie didn’t like this and snatched it out of his hands. As he began to walk away Sasha tripped him and Violet scurried over to help the boy up. Sasha ordered Violet to stop but Violet was officially done. She walked towards the swings, leaving the three girls behind. She knew they weren’t the kind of people she wanted to be friends with. Sasha, Ellie, and Audrey stared at Violet, wondering why she wasn’t responding. But instead of asking, they just turned their backs on her, most likely already beginning to gossip about her.

Yeah! It was really ea..

You won't believe wh..

OMG! Did she ac..

DId you do the home...

Although Violet was disappointed she was starting from square one again, she was still hopeful that she could find other friends despite having been associated with the bullies of her class. She joined multiple clubs and signed up for softball (which was her favorite sport) and practice was thankfully starting soon. She had a few acquaintances, but nothing like the friends she had at her old school. Violet was starting to feel defeated, but each night, her parents would encourage her to keep trying. It didn’t help that her younger brother Oliver seemed to blend in with his new class and was already having other kids over for playdates. Violet began to feel like she would never have friends.

He makes it seem so easy!

Eventually, the time came for softball practice. As Violet watched all of the other girls come onto the field, she was hoping she would be able to make a new friend. Even if she didn’t, Violet loved softball so much that this would at least give her something to look forward to after school. For Violet, softball was the best sport in the whole world! Practice began with simple drills and reviewing basic skills. The swoosh of the ball and hearing its reassuring thump as it landed in her glove was comforting to Violet. Soon after, the girls were paired up which is when everything started to go downhill.

Violet was relieved to see her partner was a girl named Jade that she recognized from class. However, as soon as the drills began, Violet could tell Jade was trying her hardest to throw the ball as powerfully and beautifully as she could and Violet was struggling to keep up. Each ball that actually made it into Violet’s glove landed with a thump loud enough to make the Earth shake. “THUNK” One ball smacked Violet right in the knee. The pain rippled throughout her body. Unsurprisingly, when this happened, a gleaming sneer appeared on Jade's face. However, when Violet went to prove she could be just as good as Jade, it didn’t exactly go as planned. Her leg, still in pain from when Jade hit her, was not in the proper position when she went to throw. She felt the ball release and it barely packed a punch when it glided into Jade’s glove. “Looks like someone needs to go back to Little League! You can barely throw!” Violet wanted to cry. The one activity she was looking forward to most was being ruined by Jade and her mean spirit. Luckily, soon after the drills, practice ended and Violet was able to go home.

OUCH!

During dinner, Violet’s parents noticed that she didn’t seem to be herself. “What’s with the long face?” questioned Violet’s mother. “Did they run out of cookies at lunch?” Violet wished her only problem was a lack of cookies. “No, I just don’t like school anymore. I don’t have any friends and softball was a little rough.” Violet’s parents glanced nervously at each other. They questioned what happened at practice and Violet told them everything. “Sometimes these things take longer than expected. The important thing is you keep being yourself and friends will follow,” commented her dad. Oliver, being his unhelpful self said, “Just go up to someone and start talking to them.” Violet tried to explain it wasn’t that easy, but Oliver didn’t care. He had already found his friends. Violet went up to her room. She needed to be alone after such a terrible day.

Sitting on her bed, Violet contemplated the situation she found herself in. Everyone makes it seem so easy; as if friends will magically fall into the palm of your hand and it had been weeks with no such occurrence. She tried to take her mind off things by listening to music, doing homework, and reading a little, but nothing worked. She still felt dejected and wondered if she would feel like this for the rest of the school year.