The First Bell

Jack clutched his backpack straps tighter as he walked through the tall double doors of Riverside Elementary. His round glasses slipped down his nose, and he pushed them back up with one small finger. The hallway buzzed with children chattering and laughing, their voices echoing off colorful bulletin boards covered in student artwork.

A group of older boys blocked his path to the classroom. The tallest one, with messy blonde hair, looked down at Jack and smirked.

"Hey, look at the new kid," the boy said loudly. "He's so tiny! Are you sure you're not in the wrong school? Maybe you should try kindergarten."

The other boys laughed. Jack's cheeks turned red, but he tried to step around them. The blonde boy moved to block him again.

"Where are you even from? You talk funny," another boy added.

Jack hugged his book closer to his chest and whispered, "Please, I just want to get to my classroom."

The first bell rang, saving him as teachers appeared in the hallway.

The Paper Airplane Contest

Jack hurried down the hallway, his heart still pounding from the encounter with the bullies. He slipped into his classroom just as Mrs. Henderson, a cheerful woman with gray hair and kind eyes, began speaking to the class.

"Good morning, everyone! I have exciting news," she announced, holding up a bright yellow flyer. "Our school is hosting its annual Paper Airplane Contest next Friday!"

Jack's eyes widened behind his glasses. He had been making paper airplanes since he was five years old, learning different fold techniques from library books.

"The winner gets a special trophy and gets to represent our school at the district competition," Mrs. Henderson continued.

A girl with long red hair and freckles sitting next to Jack whispered, "I'm Sarah. Are you going to enter?"

Before Jack could answer, the same blonde boy from the hallway peeked through the classroom door. "Hey, tiny new kid," he called out loudly. "Don't even think about entering. You're too small to throw a plane far enough!"

The class turned to stare. Jack's cheeks burned red as he clutched his book tighter.