A New Home

I remember when I was trapped with no way out. It all started about 2 years ago, when my mom made me ride the bus. The bus was like a jail, but it was even more loud, dirty and FULL. I had moved here just about a year ago, and I didn’t want to. I loved my old house, friends, and community. But I didn’t have that here. My family and I didn’t even go to a church yet! All of the churches that we did try weren’t very welcoming or accepting.

I was only 9 years old when my whole life changed. It was the first day of 4th grade, and I was determined to make new friends. At first everything was normal. I sat down at the desk with my name on it. The chair felt cold, like it had been outside that night. At that moment, my new teacher came over to me. She said “Hello! I’m Ms. Starry, and you must be Luna! Welcome to the Farmily! Here is your schedule. This should help when you're confused on what to go to next. Have fun!”

“Thank you so much, Ms. Starry!” I said with a fake cheerful voice. Then she left, I looked at the laminated cream white piece of paper Ms. Starry handed to me.

Luna’s Schedule:

Unpack and Morning Meeting

Math

Snack

Specials

Social Studies (SS)

Recess

Lunch

Language Arts (LA)

Pack up and Dismissal

“Okay, I’ve got this I’ve already done one of the things on the schedule!” I thought as Ms. Starry left. “Good morning students! Please head to your next class!” Ms. Starry told the class. As I quickly started to gather all of my notebooks and folders, Ms. Starry beckoned for me to come over to her desk. “Luna, you have been accepted into advanced, 5th grade math. Would you like to go?” Ms. Starry asked me. My mind was racing; I had never been in any advanced classes because my old school didn’t have them. I quickly thought it over and decided that I wanted to try it.

“Of course I’ll do it, Ms. Starry!” I excitedly told her.

“Great! You can head over there right now!” Ms. Starry replied.

As I walked down the hallway toward the 5th grade math room, my heart thumped so loudly, I was sure someone could hear it. The hallway felt longer than it should have, like it stretched on forever. Kids rushed past me, laughing with their friends, already knowing exactly where to go. I clutched my schedule like it was a map in a maze. When I finally reached the classroom, I peeked inside. The room was bright, with posters about fractions and decimals covering the walls. A tall teacher with curly hair looked up from her desk. “You must be Luna,” she said warmly. “Welcome to advanced math. We’re happy to have you.”

I nodded, trying to smile even though my stomach felt like it was full of butterflies, doing cartwheels, and dancing around. I found an empty seat near the middle and sat down quietly. As I sat down, I saw a girl wearing the same sweater that I had at home! It was a cute pink knitted one with hearts on it. She looked at me and smiled. “She seems nice. Maybe I should introduce myself.” I thought as she looked at our math teacher.

When I walked back into my original classroom after advanced math, the room was buzzing with snack‑time energy. Kids were opening bags, peeling fruit, and chatting like they’d been waiting all morning for this moment. Ms. Starry was already setting up the projector at the front of the room.

I headed to my desk, still thinking about the girl in advanced math — the one wearing the exact same sweater as me. Same color. Same pattern. Same everything. She had smiled at me when she noticed, but we didn’t get to talk because class started right away.

I unzipped my snack bag and took out my crackers. Then someone slid into the seat next to mine.

“Hi… Luna, right?” she said.

I looked up. It was her, the sweater girl.

“I’m Emma,” she said. “We were in math together. And… I’m new too.”

My eyes widened. “Really?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I just moved here last week. I didn’t know anyone in advanced math, so I was kind of relieved when I saw someone else who looked just as confused as me.”

I laughed softly. “That was definitely me.”

Before we could say anything else, Ms. Starry clapped her hands.

“Alright, Farmily! Snack time means Spellie time!”

The whole class cheered like she had just announced free puppies. Ms. Starry turned on the projector, and the big blue Spellie screen lit up the room. She always let the class vote on the difficulty level.

“Medium!” everyone shouted.

Emma leaned toward me. “I’m terrible at the first guess, but I’m really good at the last one.”

“That’s a weird talent,” I said.

“I know,” she said proudly.

The first puzzle popped up, and five blank circles appeared on Ms. Starry’s projector. Ms. Starry typed in the class’s first guess. We all watched the letters flip colors. Someone groaned. Someone else cheered. Emma whispered guesses under her breath. I actually shouted one out and it was right!

By the time we solved the word, my crackers were gone and my nerves were too. Snack ended way too fast. As we lined up for specials, Emma nudged me.

“Since we’re both new, maybe we can figure this place out together.”

I nodded. For the first time since I moved here, I didn’t feel like the only new kid. I felt like part of something, even if it was just two girls in matching sweaters or solving a Spellie during snack.

The next day I woke up with a smile on my face, for the first time in years I was actually excited to go to school. I had a new friend and hopefully I wouldn’t have to sit alone at lunch. As I was getting ready for school I wondered if Emma would be wearing that pink sweater again. I decided to put mine on just in case. I also decided to wear my white button up shirt with my rainbow skirt. After I finished getting dressed I ran downstairs and checked that microwave clock. It was 8:47! I was about to be late, so I quickly stuffed a muffin in my mouth and ran to the bus.

I had barely made it to the bus, but I still made it! I suddenly started to feel nervous again. Since Emma wasn’t on my bus, I was alone again. I could hear kindergarteners yelling at me to sit down so I quickly shoved my backpack into an open seat. I stared out the open window and started to daydream. My thoughts were interrupted by a loud SCREECH! My eyes flew open and I looked around in alarm. “Don’t worry, the bus just stopped to let us into the school.” A blond girl with purple glasses told me judgingly.

I blinked, regathered my thoughts and said “Oh, this is just my first time on the bus.” I mumbled. At my old school, we didn’t have busses because it was a private school. The blond girl didn’t hear me so I started to walk up the aisle when a red faced boy with a blue sweatshirt stopped me.

“6th graders get off first.” He growled at me. I stopped, and the moment my feet stopped moving he pushed me. Just to make his friends laugh. I was angry, more than angry. My face turned red and I had the urge to push him back even harder. I stopped myself though. I reminded myself that I came to school to make friends NOT enemies.

After the horrible bus incident I walked slowly to my class, dejectedly. I was looking through the pages of my book when someone tapped me on the head with a giggle. I stopped and started to say “ Don’t you d-” but stopped when I noticed that Emma was the person who tapped me. “I’m sorry Emma. I thought you were someone else.” I quickly apologized for my actions.

“Who did you think I was?” Emma softly asked.

“Oh, just someone from my bus who was mean.” I explained.

“If you need me to beat him up, then just tell me!” She said teasingly. I smiled and we continued our walk to the classroom. I looked over at Emma and realized that we were wearing the exact same outfit! Emma noticed it too.

“We’re matching!” We both shouted in the middle of the hallway. A teacher and some students were staring at us but we didn’t care. Arm in arm, a new pair of besties was born! Even though I had moved from my home, I felt like I had found a new home here.