Fenn’s First Pencil Mark — Behind the tall door, sneakers squeaked, lockers clanged, and paper leaves whispered along the floor. Read the full story →
Behind the tall door, sneakers squeaked, lockers clanged, and paper leaves whispered along the floor. Fenn held a stubby yellow pencil tied to his backpack strap; his big cousin had called it a brave-bit, though it looked like hardly anything at all. He wanted to step into school before the bell, but the hallway sounded as huge as thunder in a lunchbox.
Then the Welcome Back board rattled in its frame. The chalk tray was empty, and every letter waited with a quiet little shiver. Fenn took one wobbly step, then another, smelling crayons and apple peels. “I can do one line,” he whispered. With his brave-bit pencil, he drew a tiny smile under the words. The hall seemed to breathe out. Ever since then, every school welcome board keeps one first little mark for the first brave paw through the door—can you spot what Fenn is holding when the leaves whisper by?
