Frankie loved going to the school just down the street from his house.

Every day was full of fun—learning new things, coloring bright pictures, playing games, and laughing with his friends.

Frankie liked making new friends, and he liked sharing. He played happily with everyone—until he saw a face he didn’t know.

The new kid’s name was Tommy.

Tommy was bigger than the other kids. He had only been at the school for a week, but no one played with him.

Maybe it was because he was so big.
Maybe it was because he never smiled.
Or maybe… it was because he was kind of mean.

Frankie didn’t know why. But he thought maybe, just maybe, Tommy was really sad inside.

One day, Frankie was coloring.
He had just finished drawing a big red rocket ship with stars all around it. He smiled and held it up to show Hayley, who was coloring beside him.

Suddenly, he heard someone shout.

“Leave me alone!” cried Hayley.
She had tears running down her cheeks.

Frankie turned and saw Tommy pushing Hayley.

His heart started to race. He knew he had to do something.

Frankie stood up and walked over.
“Hey, Tommy,” he said, trying to sound calm and kind.

Tommy stopped. His face was red and his hands were tight fists.

“Why are you being mean to Hayley?” Frankie asked gently.

Tommy looked at the floor.
“She was laughing at me,” he said quietly.

“I wasn’t laughing at you,” Hayley sniffled. “I was telling a silly joke.”

Tommy didn’t say anything. He looked like he wanted to hide.

Frankie thought for a second. Then he smiled.
“Tommy… do you want to play with us?”

Tommy looked up, surprised.
“Why would you want to play with me?” he asked.

“Because I think,” Frankie said, “you might just need a friend.”

Tommy didn’t smile, not right away.
But he nodded.

That afternoon, Frankie, Hayley, and Tommy colored pictures together. They played a silly game and even shared cookies at snack time.

Tommy really liked hanging out with Frankie and Hayley because they were fun, and they always laughed, played, and had something exciting to do.

Tommy learned that day that just because someone tells a silly joke doesn’t mean they’re laughing at you.

At the end of the day, Tommy helped Frankie and Hayley clean up their mess. Blocks, crayons, and papers went back into their places, just in time.

Parents began coming to pick up their kids—it was time to go home.

Tommy saw his mother at the door.
He ran to her, smiling big and bright, and shouted,

“I made two new friends!” he said proudly.
“Frankie and Hayley! We played and learned all day. I even learned to share, Mommy!”

“I think I want to bring extra chocolate chip cookies tomorrow… so I can share!”

“Ok, ok,” Tommy’s mother said as she smiled.
“We can make some cookies tonight and you can share with your friends—but we need to make cookies for the whole class.”

“Yay! I can’t wait to come back to school tomorrow!” Tommy cheered.

That night, Tommy and his mother made enough cookies for the whole class.
He ate dinner, helped make the cookies, brushed his teeth, said his prayers, and went to bed…

…thinking all about the next day of school—with his new friends.