The boys stopped for a moment before one grinned. “Of course! We’ve got room for one more.” Within seconds, James was part of the group. They filled him in on the neighborhood: the best deli for snacks, the nicest neighbors, and even the diner that gave out free milkshakes for good grades.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow across the park, James felt the tension ease. He had made friends. But even as the kids laughed and played, his mind drifted back to that shed at the end of the street.