Rolando’s First Day of School

Miss Pentagon Has an Idea

At the front of the room stood Miss Pentagon. She wore bright red glasses, a neat dress, and a smile that made the whole room feel friendly.

“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 his stomach gave the tiniest flop.

What makes me special? he wondered.

He didn’t know.

Above the blackboard, the clock gave a soft little hum.

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Meet the Shapes

“Let’s begin with Diva Diamond,” said Miss Pentagon.

Diva Diamond popped out of her chair as if she had been waiting all morning for her turn. She fluffed her hair, flashed a dazzling smile, and twirled to the front of the room.

“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.”

A few children clapped.

Even the clock seemed pleased.

Tick-tick, tick.

“Next is Trey Triangle.”

Trey Triangle walked quietly to the front. He looked a little shy, but when he spoke, his voice was steady and strong.

“My name is Trey Triangle,” he said. “I have three sides and three corners. Triangles are strong. You can see us in rooftops and bridges.”

Rolando glanced out the window and imagined rooftops all across town.

“Rachel Rectangle.”

Rachel Rectangle stood tall and straight and gave the class a friendly wave.

“My name is Rachel Rectangle,” she said. “I have four sides too. Two are long, and two are short. You can find rectangles in doors, books, and building blocks.”

Rolando liked the way Rachel spoke. She sounded calm and sure, as if she always knew exactly what to say.

“Scotty Square.”

Scotty Square marched proudly to the front like he was leading a parade.

“My name is Scotty Square,” he boomed. “I have four equal sides. That means every side is the same. Turn me around any way you like—I still look like me!”

A few children giggled, and Scotty gave a proud little nod.

Up on the wall, the clock gave the tiniest approving bounce.

“Mm-hmm,” it seemed to say.

“Oscar Octagon.”

Oscar Octagon hurried to the front so quickly that his shoes made a pat-pat-pat sound on the floor.

“My name is Oscar Octagon,” he said. “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.”

Rolando noticed that Oscar and Miss Pentagon looked a little alike. Maybe they were cousins. The thought made him smile.

“Suzy Star.”

Suzy Star did not walk to the front.

She skipped.

Then she twirled.

Then she skipped and twirled at the very same time.

“Good morning, everybody!” she sang. “I’m Suzy Star. I shine bright wherever I go. You can find stars in the night sky and sparkling on top of holiday trees.”

The classroom clock gave a soft, swingy hum, as though it might be dancing along.

“Hazel Heart.”

Hazel Heart walked gently to the front with her hands folded together. She spoke in a quiet voice, but every child in the room listened.

“My name is Hazel Heart,” she said. “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 wherever people care about each other.”

The room grew still and warm and quiet.

Then Miss Pentagon said softly, “Thank you, Hazel.”

Rolando Worries

Rolando looked around the room.

• Diva was shiny.
• Trey was strong.
• Rachel was useful.
• Scotty was sturdy.
• Oscar helped keep 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.

What was he supposed to say?

Rolando hoped with all his might that Miss Pentagon would not call his name next.

Recess Begins

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.

“Recess!” shouted Scotty Square.

In a flutter and clatter, the children hurried out the door.

All except Rolando.

He stayed in his seat, staring down at the floor.

Miss Pentagon paused at the doorway. “Coming, Rolando?”

“In a minute,” he said softly.

Miss Pentagon gave him a kind nod and followed the others outside.

Ticky Speaks

Soon the classroom grew quiet.

Very quiet.

The sunshine still stretched across the floor. The pictures on the walls still smiled. But without the children, the room suddenly felt too big.

Rolando looked up at the clock.

He sighed.

“What makes me special?” he whispered.

“Hmm,” said a voice.

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.”

Rolando stared.

The clock gave the tiniest wiggle on the wall, as if settling itself comfortably.

“Name’s Ticky,” he said. “And right now, I’m vibin.”

“Vibin?” Rolando repeated.

“Certainly,” said Ticky. “Keeping time. Setting the mood. Helping nervous children and shapes through their day. Vibin.”

Rolando couldn’t help it.

A little smile slipped onto his face.

Ticky’s Riddle

But then the smile slipped away again.

“I don’t know what to say,” Rolando admitted. “Everybody else knows what makes them special.”

“Ah,” said Ticky. “A first-day problem.”

“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.”

“A riddle?”

“The very best kind,” said Ticky. “One with an answer hiding inside it.”

Ticky cleared his throat.

“What goes round and round, can move without walking, and may be faster than it knows?”

Rolando frowned.

“A wheel?”

“Good guess,” said Ticky. “But not the answer I’m thinking of.”

“A ball?”

“Another excellent guess.”

Rolando thought hard.

At last he slumped in his chair. “I don’t know.”

“That’s all right,” said Ticky kindly. “Sometimes answers take time.”

A Clue From Ticky

Rolando looked discouraged again, so Ticky asked, “What do you love to do?”

Rolando blinked. “Love to do?”

“Yes. Not what sounds clever. Not what sounds impressive. What do you love?”

Rolando thought for a moment.

Then his face brightened just a little.

“I like racing,” he said.

Ticky hummed.

“Racing,” he said. “Interesting.”

“I like going fast,” said Rolando. “Really fast.”

“Faster than walking?”

Rolando nodded.

“Faster than running?”

Rolando nodded again.

Ticky’s hands gave a pleased little shiver.

“Well, well,” he said. “That sounds like a clue.”

Rolando looked up. “You think so?”

“I do,” said Ticky. “Not every special thing is easy to notice when you’re sitting still.”

Rolando was very quiet.

Outside, he could hear the faraway sound of children laughing on the playground.

Ticky lowered his voice.

“Sometimes, you have to move before you understand what makes you you.”

Rolando looked at the door.

Then back at Ticky.

“Do you really think I’ll figure it out?”

Ticky smiled his clock-smile.

“Tick and tock, tock and tick,” he said. “Your time will come, Rolando Circle. I’m quite sure of it.”

Out to the Playground

Rolando stood up slowly.

For the first time all day, the tight little worry inside him loosened.

“Thank you,” he said.

“Any time,” said Ticky.

Rolando took a few steps toward the door, then turned back.

“One more thing,” he said. “What was the answer to your riddle?”

Ticky gave a playful grin.

“You,” he said.

Before Rolando could ask another question, Ticky added, “Now off you go. Recess won’t wait forever—and neither will discovery.”

Rolando smiled and hurried outside.

Scotty Wants a Race

On the playground, the children ran in every direction. Some climbed. Some swung. Some played tag. Some laughed so hard they could barely stand still.

Nearby, Scotty Square crossed his arms.

“I’m bored,” he said. “I need something exciting to do.”

Then his face lit up.

“I know! I’ll have a race!”

He asked Diva Diamond first.

“A race?” said Diva. “No thank you. I might get messy.”

He asked Trey Triangle.

“Not today,” Trey said. “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!”

The Race

The two lined up at one end of the playground.

Scotty bent his knees.

Rolando leaned forward.

Several classmates stopped what they were doing to watch.

“On your mark,” said Scotty.

“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 whisked past his cheeks.

The playground blurred.

And just before the finish line—

ZOOM!

Rolando rolled right past Scotty Square and won the race.

Rolando Understands

For one surprised second, nobody said a word.

Then Scotty laughed.

“Wow!” he said. “You’re fast!”

Oscar clapped. Suzy cheered. Rachel smiled. Even Diva looked impressed.

Warmth bloomed inside Rolando, from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.

Now he knew.

Rolando Takes His Turn

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,” he murmured. “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.

“My name is Rolando Circle. I am round. I do not have sides or corners like some of you. But being round makes me special too. It helps me roll fast.”

Miss Pentagon beamed.

“Excellent, Rolando,” she said. “Every shape is different, and every shape is special.”

From the wall came the tiniest whisper.

“Still vibin.”

Rolando smiled the biggest smile of the whole day.

Home Again

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 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.”