The Sometimes Friend

The Sometimes Friend

Lucy scanned the cafeteria and tried not to panic. It was her first day of third grade at a new school. She had no idea who to sit with.

Then a girl with a big, bright smile waved Lucy over to her table. Lucy sank down beside her with a small sigh of relief. " I'm Dinah, " the girl said. " Hi, " Lucy said. " I'm Lucy. " " I like your hair, " Dinah said. “ Wish mine was curly. " " Thanks, " Lucy said. “ You look like an artist, " Dinah said. " I like art, " Lucy said. " Me, too! " Dinah said. " Let's draw at your house this weekend. I'll bring my markers. You can bake us cookies. " “ Okay, " Lucy said, excited to have a new friend.

On Saturday, Dinah came to Lucy's house. Lucy served snickerdoodles, fresh from the oven. " I like chocolate chip better, " Dinah said. " I told you that. " “ Oh, " Lucy said. Dinah had told her nothing of the kind. Dinah ate the snickerdoodles anyway. Lucy watched her drop crumbs on the rug.

" You have a great room, " Dinah said. " My favorite color is purple, too. But my room is green. " Dinah had finished the cookies. She sank down on Lucy's bed and said, " Let's draw here. " Lucy hesitated. But she wanted Dinah to like her, so she agreed. It wasn't long before Dinah's marker slipped. It made a long, black line through the purple flowers on Lucy's bedspread. Lucy gasped. " Oopsie, " Dinah said. Her eyes were big and round. " It was an accident! " Lucy nodded but she wasn't so sure. It didn't seem like an accident.