Two Years have passed and Tristen is now Seven and is starting Second Grade. Before this he was home taught and Perdita. She had enrolled him into a Local Elementary School hoping it would be an opportunity for him to make some friends and find a sense of belonging. Tristen's hear raced as he stepped into the unfamiliar classroom, his eyes screaming for a safe spot.

The Teacher introduced him to the class, and a few students smiled and waved, offering a friendly gesture. Tristen hesitated for before raising his hand as a response. Not everyone shared the same welcoming attitude.

During recess, Tristen Tried joining a group of kids playing soccer. He approached them with a shy smile, hoping to be included. But instead he was met with a cold stare from a boy named Jake.

"Hey new kid, we don't need you here. Go play somewhere else." Jake sneered, his tone dripping with superiority.

Tristen's heart sank. Memories of his other foster parents came back, and he felt a knot of anxiety form in his stomach. He Backed away, eyes downcast, feeling the glares of his classmates on him.

As days turned to weeks, Tristen found himself struggling to connect. Some kids were kind, but the memories of the unkind made him avoid most everyone. Recess has been spent alone through most of the year.

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Perdita notices his demeanor. At dinner she asked gently.

"How was school today?'

Tristen hesitated, his fork playing with his food.

"It was okay I guess. Some kids are nice... some are mean too."

Her expression softened more

"Tristen, Making friends can be tough. But remember, not everyone is unkind. You're a wonderful person, someone is bound to see that... I know I did as soon as I met you."

As time went on, Perdita encouraged Tristen to join after-school activities, where he could potentially meet a friend. Slowly, he began to open up, finding solace in reading .

One day, while he was engrossed in a book at the library, a girl named lily approached him.

"Hey, Whatcha reading?" she asked with genuine curiosity. Tristen looked up surprised by her friendly demeanor. They struck up a conversation about books and their favorite authors, and before he knew it, the library had turned into a safe haven of conversation and shared interests.

Lily had introduced Tristen to a few of her friends, and gradually he found himself forming connections. The walls he had built around himself had crumbled and replaced by a sense of belonging and acceptance.

As he navigated his way through the challenges of second grade, he learned that while his past had shaped him, it didn't define him. With the support of Perdita and his new friends, he discovered he knew he could build a brighter happier life... That is until the day of his birthday.