Mia’s Precious Red Pencil

Chapter 1: We should help each other

Mia lived with her grandmother in a small apartment above a bakery.

Her grandmother earned money by sewing clothes. There was enough for their needs, but little left for special treats.

Mia loved drawing. She drew birds on old envelopes and flowers on the blank sides of used paper.

At school, other children had boxes full of colorful pencils. Mia had one short gray pencil.

One evening, her grandmother placed a small package on the table.

Inside was a bright red coloring pencil.

Mia held it as carefully as a treasure.

“I can draw roses now!”

The next day, her teacher asked everyone to make a picture of a garden.

Mia began drawing red flowers.