On a bed of long grass that tickled her ankles Doina stood staring at the sun above the gold and green hills rolling in the distance.

In front of her an olive colored man with a large turban held a glass of lemonade and beamed down at her.

The man said, "Doina, my name is Summer. I hope you enjoy my hometown."

Summer looked over Doina's shoulder and smiled so big he showed all of his teeth. Doina turned around. The sun soaked valley that stretched out before her was filled with families and carnival stands!

Summer and Doina played the games together and talked with the families; Doina practiced being respectful to the adults, but would make funny faces at the children younger than her.

As the sun dipped red above the gold hills, Summer and Doina finished their picnic then laid on a big blanket that had hundreds of brightly colored roses in its pattern. Summer said, "Today was a good day for making good memories, Doina. I was so happy to share this place I love so much with you. I think you will be a good friend."

With a big grin, Doina flung herself sideways and rolled down the gold hills with arms above her head, slowly coming to a stop face up in the dirt. Doina laid still and watched the clouds. She threw her arms and legs out as far as they would go and breathed deeply to catch her breath. The low hanging sun warmed the toes of her bare feet.

A shadow fell across her face and Doina's heart skipped a beat. Then the shape focused into a big pig which nuzzled her cheek with its snout! Doina laughed and laughed. She tried to stand, but the pig accidentally pushed her back onto her butt.

A voice called out from the house nearby, "Doina! You're invited for dinner! Stop playing in the dirt with the pigs. Come inside and get cleaned up."

Doina stood, petted the pig on its head, between the ears where cats like to be scratched, then walked to the door of the house.

"Welcome to my home, Doina. My name is Autumn and you need a bath!" Said the large beautiful woman at the door. Autumn's afro was so big and poofy! It surrounded her head and made Doina giddy and want to press her face into it and feel it tickle her nose. Doina shuffled her feet quickly because she had the wiggles then raced down the hall to the bathroom.

"Hey! Here's your change of clothes," said a young man in the hall next to the bathroom. He was carrying a school textbook, pointing to a pile of clothes on a bed in the nearby bedroom, and gesturing with impatience. Doina jumped through the doorway passed the young man into the bedroom. She gasped at a pair of bright yellow shoes on top of the pile of clothes. Carefully cupping the bundle from beneath with her arms, and on top with her chin, Doina waddled into the bathroom.

After cleaning herself really well Doina walked slowly to the kitchen. Papa, Autumn, and Son were just pulling their chairs out to sit at a square wood table. Autumn smiled at Doina and said, "You look all scrubbed up, dear. Thank you for coming to dinner."

Doina pulled hard at her heavy chair then used her knees to climb up. She knew Son was waiting for her to ask for help. Doina didn't ask for help, but she liked knowing he would have helped if she asked. Doina sat at the table while swinging her legs and tapping together her new yellow shoes.

Autumn served Doina a salad that smelled like hugs and tasted like mangoes. It made Doina very happy. Papa broke apart a loaf of bread and, with a warm smile through his thick beard, handed to Doina the piece in the middle. She liked the end pieces best, but she knew adults like the middle and Papa was being kind so Doina pretended she had a big beard, too, and smiled warmly as best she could.

Autumn slipped her hand into Papa's then gently rested her other hand on Doina's shoulder. Doina didn't want her to let go.

"We don't have much, Doina. This year has been difficult for our family. We imagine it might get worse soon, but we have each other and we have hope."

Son kept his face into his plate. His mouth full of greens he nodded in agreement. Papa squeezed Autumn's hand.

"Now eat up, dear, you're back to school tomorrow," said Autumn.

Doina sat on the bench crying, hearing the jeers of her bullies disappearing around a building. Her jeans were ripped and she could see blood on her knees. Her hands were stinging and scraped from the gravel.

A man in a brown suit walked toward her, his leather shoes made a rasping sound as they scuffed against the concrete. The man stopped near Doina then sat down beside her. Doina did not look up, she was trying to stifle her sobs. Doina wanted to show the man that she was brave even if she did not know him.

"Hello young lady, I am administrator Winter," said the man. Winter saw that Doina was not in a mood to talk so he paused to take a deep breath and look around at the school and the children playing in the field nearby.

Winter turned his right hand up and examined his palm while gathering his thoughts. "I know about broken hearts and bullies, about feeling alone and scared. Sometimes we feel pain. Sometimes we hurt... I know you are hearing what I am saying, but it will take a long time for it to sink in. When you hurt remember that you are full of strength and that light and love are never far away; let the pain remind you of just how wonderful it is to be alive."

Winter smiled with sad affection, calmly laid his hand on Doina's head, and pressed down just enough to say, "I understand; be brave," without saying a word, then stood and walked away. The sound of his leather shoes scuffing against the pavement remained long after Doina could no longer see him.

Doina continued looking down at her knees, but her hands were not stinging anymore. Hearing someone call out to her from the field she looked up and saw her best friend, Alexandra, running toward her.

Alexandra arrived, her smile changing quickly to surprise, "What's wrong, Doina? Are you hurt? Let me see." Alexandra jumped up onto the bench next to Doina, shoulder to shoulder as close as she could get until Doina had to push into Alexandra to avoid falling over. Alexandra inspected Doina's knees and gave many hugs.