Marcus and the Brave Heart Day

In the morning, Marcus put on his favorite t-rex shirt. It always made him feel a little stronger. But at breakfast, his tummy felt funny—like butterflies were doing somersaults inside. 'I don't want to go,' Marcus told his cereal. 'Can't I stay home with you, Mama?' Mama sat down and put her warm hand over his. 'Those butterflies are totally normal,' she said. 'Everyone feels them when they try something new.' 'Even grown-ups?' 'Even me, right now. Because MY baby is starting school!'

Mama took Marcus's hand and opened his palm. Then she kissed it, right in the center, and gently folded his fingers over. 'There,' she said. 'I put my love right there. Whenever you feel scared or lonely, open your hand. My love will be waiting.' Marcus peeked at his palm. He couldn't SEE anything. But somehow... he could FEEL it. Warm and tingly, like a tiny hug. 'It's invisible love,' Mama explained. 'The strongest kind.'

The school was HUGE. Bigger than Marcus's whole apartment building. Bigger than the library. Maybe bigger than anything he'd ever seen. And there were SO many kids! Running and laughing and shouting. Backpacks everywhere. Colors everywhere. Marcus grabbed Mama's hand tight. 'I changed my mind,' he whispered. 'Let's go home.' But Mama just squeezed back. 'Let's just see the door,' she said. 'One tiny step at a time.'

At the classroom door stood a tall lady with beautiful twisty braids and the biggest smile Marcus had ever seen. 'Well, hello there! You must be Marcus—I've been waiting to meet you!' 'You have?' Marcus asked, surprised. 'Oh yes! I heard you love dinosaurs.' She pointed at his shirt. 'Guess what? We have a dinosaur discovery corner with a REAL fossil!' Marcus's eyes went wide. 'A real fossil? From a real dinosaur?' 'From a real dinosaur that lived millions of years ago. Want to see?' For the first time that morning, Marcus felt something other than scared. He felt curious.

Marcus looked back at Mama. Her eyes were a little shiny. She was trying to smile, but Marcus could tell she was feeling butterflies too. 'I'll be right here at three o'clock,' she promised. 'That's a Mama promise.' She hugged him—the kind of hug that fills you all the way up, from your toes to your ears. Then she blew him a kiss. Marcus caught it in his hand—the same hand that held her invisible love—and put it in his pocket for safekeeping. He took a deep breath and walked through the door.

The classroom was amazing! There were cubbies with everyone's names, and a cozy reading corner with bean bags, and paintings of rainbows on the walls. But the dinosaur corner—WOW! Marcus touched the fossil gently with one finger. It was bumpy and ancient and REAL. 'Millions of years ago, that was part of a living dinosaur,' Miss Johnson said. Marcus's worries felt very small compared to millions of years. 'Cool,' he breathed. 'Really, really cool.'

Cool shirt!' said a voice behind him. Marcus turned around. A boy with red hair and lots of freckles was grinning at his t-rex. 'Thanks,' Marcus said shyly. 'I'm Benji. Do you want to be partners for the name game? I don't know anyone either.' Marcus felt the butterflies settle down a little more. 'Okay,' he said. And then, because it felt right, he added: 'I like your freckles.' Benji laughed. 'Thanks! My mom says they're like sprinkles on a cookie.' Marcus laughed too. Maybe making friends wasn't so hard after all.

The day was full of surprises! They sang a song about the days of the week. Marcus learned it after just three tries. They painted pictures. Marcus made a pterodactyl with purple wings. They had crackers and apple slices at snack time. Marcus and Benji traded—Benji liked apples more, Marcus liked crackers more. They read a story about a caterpillar who ate too much and became a beautiful butterfly. 'Just like our butterflies,' Marcus thought. 'Maybe being nervous turns into something good.'

When Mama appeared at the classroom door, Marcus ran to her—not because he was scared, but because he had SO MUCH to tell her! 'Mama! I touched a REAL fossil! And I made a friend named Benji! And I can sing the days of the week! And Miss Johnson said my pterodactyl painting was creative! And guess what else?' 'What else?' Mama laughed, scooping him up. 'I opened my hand when I felt scared, and your love WAS there. And then I wasn't scared anymore.' Mama held him tight, her happy tears falling on his curly hair. 'I'm so proud of you, my brave boy.' Marcus looked back at the school as they walked to the car. It didn't seem so big anymore. 'Mama? Can I come back tomorrow?' And that was the best question of all.