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This is Jack. Today Jack is in a lonely mood. Billie is home sick from school and Jack has nobody to play with.

Jack has other friends, but Billie is his best friend. The school day feels long and boring without Billie. At recess, Jack sits under the peppercorn tree. He draws squiggles in the dust with a stick.

Jack looks up and sees Alex standing in front of him. Alex is in Jack’s class. He has just got new glasses. ‘Hey, Alex,’ says Jack. ‘Nice glasses.’ ‘Thanks,’ Alex says. ‘Hey, do you want to see something ?’ Jack grins. ‘OK,’ he says. He follows Alex to the far end of the playground. Alex points to a mound of dirt. Jack kneels down.

‘It’s an ants’ nest,’ Alex whispers. ‘Those are the worker ants. They are carrying food for the queen ant and her babies.’ ‘Cool,’ says Jack. He lies on his stomach to see the ants better. They are so busy! They run in and out of the nest without stopping. Alex lies next to him. Together they watch the ants without talking.

Soon the bell goes. Jack can’t believe how quickly time has passed! ‘Shall we come back at lunchtime?’ Alex asks. ‘Sure!’ says Jack happily. They stand up and run back to class.

At lunchtime, Jack and Alex take some crumbs from their sandwiches to the ants’ nest. Jack crouches next to Alex. He watches the ants lift the crumbs onto their backs. The crumbs look compared to the tiny ants.