Zoey and the Two Burgers

Chapter 1: Sharing makes difference

When Zoey was very young, her parents divorced. Her father left to build a different life, and Zoey stayed with her mother, Ana.

Ana worked as a maid in a large house. She washed floors, cleaned rooms, and folded clothes. Money was tight, but she worked hard to keep Zoey in school.

Zoey’s uniform was faded, and her shoes had been repaired more than once. At lunchtime, she watched her classmates open boxes filled with burgers, fruit, and little cakes. Her own lunch was usually simple bread.

Sometimes, feeling left out made Zoey speak sharply. She had few friends, and she often sat alone.

One evening, she put her schoolbag down with a sigh.

“Mom, why can’t I have a nice uniform and a tasty lunch like everyone else?”

Ana sat beside her.

“I know it’s difficult, sweetheart. Your uniform doesn’t decide how much you matter. But I’ll see what I can do about lunch.”

That evening, Ana worked extra hours. On her way home, she bought Zoey a burger.

Zoey’s eyes lit up.