[Scene: Elementary school. The bell rings, and kids rush out of class. In the hallway, LILA, a quiet 8-year-old girl, stands by her cubby, looking down at her broken pencil case. A few feet away, EMILY — the classmate who broke it earlier that day — watches with guilt on her face.]
[Flashback earlier in the day: Emily, in front of a group of giggling classmates, had teased Lila for her old pencil case. In a moment of cruelty, she grabbed it and tossed it on the floor — where it cracked in two.]
[Back to present. Emily takes a deep breath and walks over.]
Emily: (softly)
Lila?
Lila: (quiet)
Yeah?
Emily: (nervous)
I… I’m really sorry. About earlier. I shouldn’t have done that. I was trying to be funny but… it wasn’t. It was mean.
[Lila doesn’t say anything. Just hugs her arms around her books.]
Emily: (pulling something from her backpack)
I got you this.
[She holds out a brand-new pencil case — sparkly, colorful, with Lila’s favorite animal on it. There’s even a little note taped to it that reads, “You deserve better.”]
Emily:
I asked my mom to help me pick it out. I know it won’t fix everything, but… I wanted you to have it.
[Lila slowly takes it, her eyes starting to shine.]
Lila:
It’s… really nice. Thank you.
Emily: (smiling a little)
Also… I know your parents don’t have a car right now. My mom’s waiting outside. We can give you a ride home, if you want.
Lila: (surprised)
Really?
Emily:
Really. You shouldn’t have to walk alone. Not after today.
[Lila nods. The two girls walk out of school together — a little closer, a little lighter — and both knowing that kindness can heal more than just a broken pencil case.]
