Amara and the Friendship Garden

Daddy knelt down so his eyes met hers. 'I know it's scary,' he said. 'New places with new people can feel really big.' Amara nodded. Her throat felt tight. 'But you know what? Everyone here was new once. Everyone had a first day at this park.' 'Really?' 'Really. And I bet at least one of these kids is hoping to make a new friend today—just like you.' Amara looked at all the playing children. Could one of them be hoping too? 'Let's just stay for a little while,' Daddy said. 'You don't have to do anything you're not ready for.'

Amara found a bench where she could watch. She saw two boys playing superheroes, whooshing around with their arms out. She saw three girls building a sandcastle, arguing about where the tower should go. She saw a baby taking wobbly steps while his mum clapped. Then she noticed something else. Over by the garden, sitting alone under a tree, was a girl with curly brown hair and glasses. She had a sketchbook, and she was drawing something. Amara's heart did a little hop. She loved drawing too.

Amara stood up. She took three steps toward the drawing girl. Then she stopped. What if the girl didn't want company? What if Amara said something silly? What if her voice came out too quiet and the girl couldn't hear her? Amara's feet felt stuck to the ground. She looked back at Daddy. He gave her a thumbs up and a smile. Amara took a deep breath. One more step. Then another. Then another. The girl looked up.

'Hi,' Amara said. Her voice was small, but it came out. 'Hi,' said the girl, pushing her glasses up her nose. 'I like your butterfly.' Amara pointed at the sketchbook. The girl's face lit up. 'Thanks! I'm trying to get the wings right, but the spots keep looking wrong.' Amara sat down carefully, not too close, not too far. 'Maybe the spots could be different sizes?' she suggested. 'Real butterflies have spots that aren't all the same.' The girl's eyes went wide. 'That's such a good idea! I'm Zoe. What's your name?' 'Amara.' And just like that—they were talking.

'Do you like drawing too?' Zoe asked. 'I LOVE drawing,' Amara said, forgetting to be shy. 'Especially animals. My favorite is elephants.' 'Elephants! I love owls. Did you know they can turn their heads almost all the way around?' Amara giggled. 'If I could do that, I'd be SO dizzy!' 'Me too!' Zoe laughed. 'I tried once and fell off my chair.' They both laughed together—the kind of laugh that bubbles up when you find someone who gets you. Amara couldn't believe it. Talking to Zoe felt... easy.

'Want to draw together?' Zoe asked. 'You could draw an elephant and I'll draw an owl, and they could be friends!' 'An elephant and an owl who are best friends,' Amara said. 'I love that.' They drew side by side, their pencils scratching and swooping. Amara's elephant had big floppy ears and a gentle smile. She named her Eleanor. Zoe's owl had huge round glasses, just like Zoe. She named him Oscar. 'Eleanor and Oscar go on adventures together,' Amara said. 'Even though they're really different,' Zoe added, 'they're the best of friends.' Their eyes met. They both smiled.

They kept drawing and drawing, making up Eleanor and Oscar's story. 'Eleanor is kind of shy,' Amara said, 'but Oscar helps her be brave.' 'And Oscar worries too much,' Zoe added, 'but Eleanor makes him laugh and helps him relax.' 'They're different,' Amara said, 'but that's what makes them a good team.' Zoe nodded seriously. 'My mum says that's how the best friendships work. You don't have to be exactly the same.' Amara looked at Zoe—her curly hair, her glasses, her bouncy energy. They weren't exactly the same at all. And that felt just right.

'Amara, time to go!' Daddy called. Amara's heart sank. Already? But they'd just started being friends! Zoe looked sad too. 'What if we never see each other again?' Then Zoe had an idea. She carefully tore their picture in half—the elephant side and the owl side. 'Here,' she said, giving Amara the Eleanor half. 'I'll keep Oscar. And next time we come to the park, we'll put them back together!' 'You promise you'll come back?' Amara asked. 'I promise. We have to finish Eleanor and Oscar's story. It's only just beginning!' They hugged—a quick, surprising hug that felt like they'd been friends forever.

Walking back to the car, Amara held her Eleanor drawing carefully. 'You look happy,' Daddy said. 'I made a friend, Daddy. Her name is Zoe and she likes owls and drawing and she's really funny.' 'I saw. You were very brave going to talk to her.' Amara thought about that moment—the scary moment when her feet felt stuck. She'd done it anyway. 'Daddy? Can we come back tomorrow?' Daddy laughed. 'I had a feeling you'd say that.' Amara smiled all the way home. Inside her chest, where the nervous feeling used to be, there was something new. Something warm and excited and full of possibility. The feeling of a friendship, just beginning to grow.