I flew down the stairs and threw a satchel over my shoulder, quickly shoving on my shoes. I’m late, I’m late, were the only words going through my brain. More accurately, igj Hath, igj Hath, in the Kopajs language. I ran out the door, rushing towards the Tree of Wallahäne. When I got there, I removed the satchel, threw it to the side and knelt in front of the tree. Its pink and green leaves rustled in annoyance as I muttered the verse of Wallahäne.

Armehg Lahufa Carniarle, Pophenx harlo mabifo.

I grabbed my satchel and raced off to school.

As soon as I had gone through the door, I felt green elven eyes on my back. I averted my gaze and lowered myself into my chair, muttering an apology. The teacher tapped a pencil on his desk impatiently.

“Late,” he announced. “Detention on Tuesday and Friday.” I groaned, and he glared at me. He turned back to the lesson. I tuned out.

When he had finished lecturing us, I got up eagerly and went to the lunch room. I opened my satchel and found a charlemepl, a type of purple fruit, a paikan sandwich, and a box of maila juice. As I ate, an elven girl came up to me.

“Hi,” she said shyly. “I’m Ariyz. I’m new here. What’s your name?”

“I’m Giwhuanu,” I said. “Wanna sit here?”

“Sure!” Ariyz said, plopping down a lunch tray. “What languages do you know?” It’s a way of tradition to know what languages someone speaks before befriending them. For elves, anyways. I swallowed a bite of charlemepl.

“Wallahäne, Argiarh, and Vanisha,” I responded. “And you?”

“Wallahäne, Vanisha, and English,” she said proudly. I gawped at her.

“You know English?” I demanded. Only humans know English!

“Well, my mom is American,” Ariyz said, blushing. Quietly, she said, “she’s a human.”

“Wow.” was all I could manage.

“Most people don’t want to be my friend because of my parentage,” she said. “So . . .”

“I’ll be your friend!” I said immediately. We talked and laughed over lunch. I had made a new friend!

It matters where you come from, but not as much as it matters what is in your heart.

Pronunciation:

igj Hath: ichj Hach (ch as in Chanukah) Kopajs: Koh-patchs Armehg lahufa carniarle: Agh-mehg la-hoo-fah Car-nee-alle Pophenx harlo mabifo: Poh-fenx har-low mah-bee-fo Wallahäne: Vah-la-hen-uh Ariyz: Ah-reez Giwhuanu: Jee-wua-knew Argiarh: Ar-gee-ar-e Vanisha: Vah-nee-shah Charlemepl: Shar-luh-maple Maila: My-la Paikan: Pah-ee-khan