He sat beside him gingerly and smiled shyly. He waved and spoke rapidly, his voice gentle and smooth. Lay’s eyebrows knitted together and he shook his head slowly in sad confusion. The new boy stopped speaking and gulped.

          “I don’t understand.” Lay said as clearly as he could, but he still winced at how thick his accent is. Wow, no wonder nobody talks to me, he thought to himself.

          At first the new kid doesn’t seem to get it, and Lay watches the floor, waiting for him to give up on Lay and leave. They always do. But then he hears a soft laugh and he looks up to see the new boy, not mocking him, but smiling in understanding.

          The new kid tries again. He waves. “Hello” he states, enunciating carefully but not obnoxiously. He places a small pudgy hand to his chest. “Chen” he says. Then he points at Lay curiously, a question in his eyes.

          Lay’s dimples light up his face as he thumps a finger on his chest, “Lay” he says softly.

          “Hello, Lay” Chen says proudly.

          “Hello, Chen!” Lay says, excited to make such a kind new friend.