At school on Monday morning, Katie was mad, but she was also worried.
If she didn't make up with Luke and Carlos, her square-dance plans were finished.
She handed a note to Joy.
"Please pass this to Carlos," she said.
She gave a note to Olivia.
"Please pass this to Luke."
The notes said the same thing:
Come to dance practice tonight!
N-O spells NO, wrote Carlos.
NO WAY, wrote Luke.
"It's time for Laura's report on eyes," said Ms. Barrow.
Laura carried a small pink suitcase to the front of the room.
"Everyone, I'm worried about your eyes!" she said.
"You must protect them!"
Her eyes got big behind her glasses.
"Watch out for sharp things—like scissors!"
Joy remembered when Katie ran down the steps with scissors.
She kicked Katie's desk to make sure she was listening.
Laura continued. "Watch out for flying things—like darts.
And exploding things—like firecrackers.
And things that splash—like paint remover!"
Laura reached inside her suitcase.
"These are safety glasses," she said.
"They fit over regular glasses.
Wear them when you do science experiments or use tools."
Laura pulled out more glasses.
"These are very cool sports glasses that I wear when I play softball.
And these sunglasses protect my eyes from harmful sunrays.
If you have trouble reading your books or seeing what Ms. Barrow writes on the board, tell your parents.
Maybe you need glasses.
I wear glasses all the time.
If I take them off, I look weird! See?
I don't even look like me!"
Laura closed her suitcase.
"Thank you," she said and returned to her desk.
"That was great!" Joy told her.
Next was Joy's presentation.
"I'm going to talk about how to build friendships.
First, I want you all to be friendly listeners during my report.
Please turn your bodies toward me and look into my eyes."
Joy looked around the room.
"Good. Now, while I'm talking, don't let your mind wander off.
Pay attention!" She smiled.
"Is everybody ready to be a friendly listener?"
Everyone nodded at Joy.
"If you see someone who looks like a nice person, say something friendly.
That's how to start a new friendship.
You could offer to help carry groceries or books.
The opposite works too!
Ask someone to help you!"
Katie nodded. She remembered how Olivia had asked for help at the library.
She turned and smiled at her new friend.
"You can also say someone has a nice haircut or cute sneakers," said Joy.
"On the first day of school, Laura told Olivia that her kukui nut necklace was cool.
That was a friendly thing to say."
Joy took a breath, smiled at Laura, and continued.
"Here are some other ways to be a good friend," she said.
"Be kind. Don't make fun of your friends."
"Does that mean don't tease?" asked Katie.
She looked at Luke.
"Make sure your friends can count on you.
Don't back out on promises or plans."
Luke and Carlos looked at Katie.
"Don't be bossy," said Joy.
"Why is everyone looking at me?" cried Katie.
"Let's be good listeners," said Ms. Barrow.
"That means no interrupting."
"Now this is important," Joy went on.
"If you fight with your friends, make up as soon as you can.
Say, 'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.'
Or say, 'I made a mistake.'"
Joy reached into a paper bag.
"This is my friendship meter," she said.
"Right now some friends in this room are making the friendship meter unhappy."
Joy looked at Luke, then Carlos, then Katie.
"The friends have had a fight," she said.
"But I think it's time to make up!"