Lost in the Hallway

I don’t need help with anything! I’m in second grade now.

Today is the first day of school. So far, it’s great. At recess, my team wins at kickball. We have Matt on our team. He’s in third grade. He’s amazing at kickball. He’s really cool. 

After recess, there’s a problem. I have to go to the bathroom. My classroom is in a different part of the school than last year. I don’t remember which way the bathroom is. 

“Can I go to the bathroom?” I ask. 

“Yes, do you know where to go? I can show you,” my teacher says. The whole class is listening. I don’t want everyone to know I need help. 

“I know where it is,” I say. But I have no clue where to go.

I walk into the hallway. I walk and walk. I get to a part of the school I’ve never seen before. Where is the bathroom? I don’t see it anywhere.

I hear loud footsteps. My heart beats fast. What’s happening? 

It’s a group of kids. They’re coming toward me. I think they’re fifth-graders. They’re huge. Yikes!

I spot my sister Lola. She’s in fifth grade. She’s with all her friends. 

“Hi, Hugo. Are you OK? Do you need help?” she says. I could ask Lola for help. But sometimes she treats me like a baby. I don’t want that! I’m in second grade! 

“No,” I say. Lola and the other kids walk into a classroom. I’m alone in the hallway again. 

I really need to find the bathroom as soon as possible. This is bad. I’m desperate. I can’t hold it much longer. 

I start running. I know I’m not supposed to run in the hallway, but I need to find the bathroom fast. I run past tons of doors, but they’re all classrooms. 

Where is the bathroom? It has to be here somewhere! Then I see a big red door.

It doesn’t look like a classroom. Maybe this is the way to the bathroom. Maybe I’m saved! I open the door. 

Oh no! It’s the library. It’s packed with little kids. 

“Do you need help?” the librarian says. The little kids stare up at me. They must be kindergartners. 

If I ask for help, they might laugh at me. I’m way older than they are. 

“No,” I say. I close the door. I dash through the hallway. I run super fast. I am so lost. I really, really need to find the bathroom. What am I going to do? 

I see Matt in the hallway. He’s whistling the music from Star Wars. He is so cool. 

It will be embarrassing to ask him for help. But if I don’t, something even more embarrassing might happen. 

I wish I had asked my teacher or my sister or the librarian for help. Now I have to ask the coolest person in the whole school. I have no other choice. I can’t wait to go to the bathroom any longer. 

“Hey, Matt?” I say.

“What’s up, Hugo?” he says. He smiles. 

“Can you help me find the bathroom?” I say. 

“Sure!” he says. He doesn’t treat me like a baby. He doesn’t laugh at me. 

“This school is confusing. I still get lost sometimes,” Matt says. 

“Really?” I say.

“Yeah, but at least there are always people to help you,” he says. We get to the bathroom.

“That’s it,” Matt says. 

“Thanks!” I say. I sprint in as fast as I can. 

I feel so much better. I walk back toward my classroom. 

Then I see another kid in the hallway. He’s wandering from door to door. 

He looks lost and scared. I think he’s a first-grader. 

“Do you need help?” I say. I smile, just like Matt. 

“Yeah, I’m looking for the bathroom,” he says. I show him where to go. 

“Thanks,” he says.

“No problem. I get lost too sometimes,” I say. “But there are always people to help you.”