When summer ended, it was time for Luisa to attend her new school.

But she was

quite afraid.
I dont know the other children there, Luisa told her mother.
Im sure youll make new friends, her mother said with a smile.
I dont think so, Luisa said quietly. She imagined that no one would talk to her.
Poor, poor Luisa.

On the morning of the first day of school, after she kissed her mother goodbye but
before the school bus came to pick her up, Luisa rushed through her house.
In the closet, she took a mop and cut off the stringy ends used to clean the floor
with. This was her new hair.
In the living room, she borrowed her fathers old pair of thick glasses. This became
her new eyes.
In the bathroom, she squeezed a tube of blue sparkly toothpaste all over her cheeks
and forehead and chin. This was her new face.
In the kitchen, she filled a small bag with vegetables and wore it on her back under
her clothes. This was her new body.
So it was as a blue-faced hunchback with stringy hair and thick glasses that Luisa
boarded the school bus for her new school.
She imagined that it was better if no one knew who she was.
Poor, poor Luisa.

The classroom was filled with children and Luisa quietly took her seat, keeping her
eyes on the floor.
It was only when the teacher called her name that Luisa looked up: this is what she
saw.
To Luisas left was a green-faced girl with spaghetti hair and doughnuts on her eyes.
To Luisas right was a chocolate-coated girl with two halves of a coconut shell on her

head.
Behind Luisa sat a girl covered in bright yellow banana peels with pillow cases for
feet.
And in front of Luisa was another girl completely covered up by a pink shower
curtain.
And no one, no one was talking or looking at anyone else.
Luisa was confused by her strange and quiet classmates.
Poor, poor Luisa.

When the bell rang for recess time, all the children walked into the schools garden.
Curious about how everyone looked and having nowhere else to go, Luisa followed
them.
The odd children stood in the sunlight, not looking at other.
Luisa waited for someone to talk, but no one did.
Poor, poor Luisa.

Hi there, Luisa said, deciding to be the first to say something to the unusual
children.
Oh! said the green-faced girl with spaghetti hair and doughnuts on her eyes.
Ah! said the chocolate-coated girl with two halves of a coconut shell on her head.
Er! said the girl covered in bright yellow banana peels with pillow cases for feet.
Uf! mumbled the girl completely covered up by a pink shower curtain.
They were all surprised.
Why are you all wearing strange things on your faces, heads, bodies and feet?
Luisa asked.
No one answered her question.

Poor, poor Luisa.

Wont you tell me, please? Luisa asked.

Well, youre very strange-looking yourself, said the green-faced girl with spaghetti
hair said.
Thats right, nodded the chocolate-coated girl.
You should see yourself, said the girl covered in bright yellow banana peels.
Uf! mumbled the girl completely covered up by a pink shower curtain.
Oh! cried Luisa, remembering what she had put on herself. But this isnt really
what I look like!
Luisa took off the stringy mop and shook out her long black hair.
She took off her fathers old pair of thick glasses and blinked her large brown eyes.
She wiped off the sparkly blue toothpaste from her face and revealed her dark
brown skin.
And finally, she removed the small sack filled with vegetables from her back and
straightened up to her full height.
This is me, she said. My name is Luisa.
The other children looked at her and at each other in silence.
Luisa suddenly felt very shy and afraid. She began to walk away.
Poor, poor Luisa.

Wait, said the green-faced girl with spaghetti hair. This isnt me either.
Wait, said the chocolate-coated girl. Its the same with me.
Wait, said the girl covered in bright yellow banana peels. I dont even like
bananas.
Uf! mumbled the girl completely covered up by a pink shower curtain.

And to Luisas amazement, the other children shook out and took off and wiped
away all the different things they had put on their faces, heads, bodies and feet.
In the middle of garden, surrounded by a mess of spaghetti noodles, doughnuts,
chocolates, coconut shells, yellow banana peels, pillow cases and a pink shower
curtain stood four young girls.
Im Nikki, said the first girl.
Im Kate, said the second girl.
Im Zarah, said the third girl.
And Im Janet, said the fourth girl.
Hello, Luisa! the four girls said together.
Hello, hello, hello, hello, said Luisa happily.

When Luisa got home, her mother asked her about her first day at school.
It was a bit scary then a bit silly, Luisa told her. But I have new friends.
I knew youd make new ones, her mother said, embracing her.
Luisa smiled and gave her mother a kiss.