“Good news, class,” said Miss Moreno. “Someone new is joining us.”
The new girl stood, smiling, in front of the room. I never saw a new kid smile so big. “This is Ella,” said Miss Moreno. “Please welcome her.”
Miss Moreno told Ella to sit at my table, right next to me. Everyone looked at her.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hi,” Ella said with a grin.
That afternoon, Lucy brought out birthday treats—cupcakes with white frosting and sprinkles. Cupcakes are my favorite. They looked yummy.
Before Lucy handed out the treats, Ella moved to a separate desk next to our table.
When Lucy tried to give Ella a cupcake, Ella said, “No, thank you.”
“What?” said Lucy. “Who doesn’t like cupcakes?”
Ella’s face turned red. “I’m allergic,” she said.
Everyone at the table stared at Ella.
“That’s weird,” said Tommy.
“Allergic Ballergic,” teased Eric.
People laughed. I laughed, too. Ella looked away, then stared down at the floor. Her smile disappeared.
Miss Moreno gave Ella a graham cracker.
I ate my cupcake, but somehow, it didn’t taste as good as usual.
At home that night, the doorbell rang. Mom called me to the living room. “Pedro,” she said. “You have a new friend next door. This is Ella. Why don’t you show her your toys while her mom and I get to know each other?”I could hardly believe it. Ella was my new neighbor!
“Hi,” I said.
“Hi,” said Ella.
“Want to see my fish tank?” I asked.
“Okay,” said Ella.
I showed Ella my fish. She asked me their names. Then she giggled, made fish lips, and said, “Nice to meet you,” to each one. She made me smile.
“Want to hear a joke?” I asked.
“Sure,” said Ella.
“Why did the elephant sit on the marshmallow?” I asked.
“Why?” Ella grinned.
“So he wouldn’t fall in the hot chocolate.”
Ella laughed so hard that I couldn’t help laughing, too.
Soon, Mom called us to the living room. “It’s time for Ella to go,” she said. “But I’m sure you’ll play again soon.”
Before they left, Mom handed Ella’s mom a plate of cookies.
“Thank you,” said Ella’s mom. “How thoughtful! But we can’t take them home. Ella is allergic to milk and eggs. If she has something with milk or eggs in it, she can get very sick.”
After they left, I asked Mom about food allergies.
“We each have things that make us different from others,” Mom said. “For Ella, one of those things is her food allergy. It just means she can’t eat some kinds of foods because they will make her sick. But she can do lots of other things, just like you.”
I went back to my room, stared at my fish tank, and thought of Ella. Tomorrow at milk break, Ella would have a different snack again. What if the kids said mean things? Then I had an idea. I ran to the kitchen to talk to Mom.
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Mom said. “I’ll call Miss Moreno in the morning.”
The next day, I played with Ella at recess. She told me knock-knock jokes that made me laugh. I knew I had made a new friend.
Later, during snack time, everyone lined up for milk and cookies. Ella stayed behind. This time, I stayed, too.
Ella looked at me. “Aren’t you going to get in line?”
“Not today,” I said. Ella looked surprised. Miss Moreno brought us both some juice and graham crackers.
Eric came back to the table with his milk and cookies. “What’s that?” he asked, staring at my snack.
“This is about to be the best graham cracker I ever tasted. Right, Ella?”
Ella smiled. “Right,” she said.
And it was.
~The End~
Illustration Copyright © 2009 Brigit McCone
Copyright © 2009 by Tracy Schuldt Helixon