Rolando Circle peeked into his new classroom and smiled.
The room was full of sunshine. Bright pictures hung on the walls. Little tables waited in neat rows. Cubbies stood open, ready for backpacks, sweaters, and treasures from home.
And high above the blackboard hung the classroom clock.
Its round face looked cheerful somehow, as if it already knew everyone in the room.
Today is going to be the best day ever, thought Rolando.
It was the very first day of school.
The children sat two to a table, wiggling, whispering, and waiting for their teacher.
At the front of the room stood Miss Pentagon. She wore bright red glasses, a smart dress, and a kind smile.
"Good morning, everyone," she said. "Welcome to your first day of school."
The children smiled back.
"Today," said Miss Pentagon, "we are going to introduce ourselves. When I call your name, come to the front of the room, tell us who you are, and tell us what makes you special."
Rolando sat up straight.
Then he froze.
What makes me special? he wondered.
He didn't know.
"My name is Diva Diamond," she announced. "I have four shiny sides and four sparkling corners. I look like a jewel, and jewels are beautiful."
"My name is Trey Triangle. I have three sides and three corners. Triangles are strong. You can see us in rooftops and bridges."
"My name is Rachel Rectangle. I have four sides too. Two are long, and two are short. You can find rectangles in doors, books, and building blocks."
"My name is Scotty Square. I have four equal sides. That means every side is the same. Turn me around any way you like — I still look like me!"
"My name is Oscar Octagon. I have eight sides. The most famous octagon of all is a stop sign. Stop signs tell cars when to stop, and that helps keep everyone safe."
"Good morning, everybody! I'm Suzy Star. I shine bright wherever I go. You can find stars in the night sky and shining on top of holiday trees."
"My name is Hazel Heart. A heart reminds people of love and kindness. You can find hearts on cards, clothes, and toys. And sometimes" — she gave a tiny smile — "you can find them where people care about each other."
The room grew very still for a moment.
Rolando looked around the room. Diva was shiny. Trey was strong. Rachel was useful. Scotty was sturdy. Oscar kept everyone safe. Suzy shined. Hazel meant love.
Everyone else seemed to know exactly what made them special.
But what about him? He had no sides. He had no corners. He had nothing pointy or slanty or equal.
Rolando hoped Miss Pentagon would not call his name next.
Just then Miss Pentagon glanced at the clock on the wall.
Before she could say another word — RINGGGG!
The recess bell rang.
The room burst into motion. Chairs scraped. Feet pattered. Voices bubbled.
In a flash, the children hurried out the door. All except Rolando. He stayed in his seat, staring at the floor.
Miss Pentagon paused by the doorway. "Coming, Rolando?"
"In a minute," he said softly.
Miss Pentagon gave him a kind nod and followed the others outside.
Soon the classroom was quiet. Very quiet.
The sunshine still stretched across the floor. The pictures on the walls still smiled. But without the children, the room felt too big.
Rolando looked up at the clock.
Rolando sighed. "What makes me special?" he whispered.
Rolando blinked. He looked around the room. Nobody was there.
"Up here, little circle," said the voice.
Rolando looked back at the clock. Its round face was smiling.
"You can talk?" Rolando gasped.
"Of course I can talk," said the clock. "I'm a classroom clock. I've seen first-day jitters, glue disasters, spilled paint, and glitter storms. Talking is the least of my talents."
The clock gave a tiny wiggle on the wall, as if settling itself comfortably.
"Name's Ticky. And right now, I'm vibin."
"Certainly," said Ticky. "Keeping time. Setting the mood. Helping nervous children and shapes through their day. Vibin."
Rolando couldn't help it. He smiled just a little.
But then his smile slipped away.
"I don't know what to say," he admitted. "Everybody else knows what makes them special."
"A big one," said Rolando.
"A knees-wobbly, tummy-flippy, heart-thumpy kind of problem?"
Rolando nodded.
Ticky's hands twitched thoughtfully.
"Well then," he said, "I think it's time for a riddle."
"What goes round and round, can move without walking, and may be faster than it knows?"
"Good guess. But not the answer I'm thinking of."
"A ball?"
"Another excellent guess."
Rolando thought hard. The classroom was so quiet he could hear the ticking between his thoughts.
At last he slumped in his chair. "I don't know."
"What do you love to do?" Ticky asked.
Rolando thought for a moment. Then his face brightened just a little.
"I like racing," he said. "I like going fast. Really fast."
Ticky's hands gave a pleased little shiver.
"Well, well. That sounds like a clue to me."
"Sometimes you have to move before you understand what makes you you."
Rolando stood up slowly. For the first time all day, the tight little worry inside him loosened.
He took a few steps toward the door, then turned back.
"One more thing," he said. "What was the answer to your riddle?"
"You," he said. "Now off you go. Recess won't wait forever, and neither will discovery."
On the playground, the children ran in all directions. Some climbed. Some swung. Some played tag.
Nearby, Scotty Square crossed his arms. "I'm bored. I need something exciting to do. I know! I'll have a race!"
He asked Diva Diamond first. "A race? No thank you. I might get messy."
He asked Trey Triangle. "Not today. I feel more like watching."
He asked Rachel Rectangle and Oscar Octagon, but they were too busy climbing the monkey bars.
Then Scotty saw Rolando coming across the playground.
"Do you want to race me?" Scotty asked.
Rolando remembered Ticky's words. Sometimes you have to move before you understand what makes you you.
"Yes," said Rolando. "I do!"
Scotty bent his knees. Rolando leaned forward.
"On your mark... Get set..."
GO!
Scotty ran as fast as he could.
Rolando rolled.
At first he rolled slowly.
Then faster.
Then faster and faster still.
Round and round and round he flew.
The wind brushed past his cheeks.
The playground whirled.
And just before the finish line —
ZOOM! Rolando rolled right past Scotty Square and won the race.
For one second nobody said anything.
Then Scotty laughed. "Wow! You're fast!"
Oscar clapped. Suzy cheered. Rachel smiled. Even Diva looked impressed.
Rolando felt something warm spread through him, from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.
He knew.
After recess, the children went back inside. The classroom felt different now — or maybe Rolando did.
High on the wall, Ticky gave the softest little hum. "Mm-hmm. Right on time."
Miss Pentagon smiled and looked at her list. "Rolando Circle," she said.
This time, Rolando did not shrink in his seat. He went right to the front of the room. He took a breath and looked at his classmates.
It helps me roll fast."
Miss Pentagon beamed. "Excellent, Rolando. Every shape is different, and every shape is special."
From the wall came the tiniest whisper.
Rolando smiled the biggest smile of the whole day.
After school, he hurried home to tell his mother everything. He told her about Miss Pentagon. He told her about Diva, Trey, Rachel, Scotty, Oscar, Suzy, and Hazel. He told her about the race. And he told her about what made him special.
His mother smiled and gave him a hug. "You are special in many ways," she said. "You are also kind, thoughtful, and brave."
That night, tucked snugly in bed, Rolando thought about his first day of school. He had made new friends. He had learned about many shapes. And best of all, he had learned something important.
And somewhere back in the quiet classroom, Ticky kept right on ticking.
Still vibin.