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UNIT 7
LESSON 1: ALYSSA WEARS A BOW TIE
Alyssa is excited for her first day of school. Summer was fun, but she always likes it when school starts again in September. There will probably be new kids in her class. Alyssa likes making new friends.
Alyssa thinks a lot about what she wants to wear on the first day of school. Her mom and dad say first impressions are important, so Alyssa wants to look nice. Alyssa and her mom go to the department store to get her new clothes. They walk past the boys’ section. Alyssa sees a bow tie. It has blue and pink stripes, and ties around the neck. Alyssa likes it. No, she loves it! “Mom, may I have that?” Alyssa says, pointing to the bow tie. “But that’s for boys,” Alyssa’s mom says. “Why?” Alyssa asks. “It’s a bow. And it’s pretty.” “Well…” Alyssa’s mom says. She is thinking. Alyssa crosses her fingers. “O.K., I guess we can get it.”
Alyssa jumps up and down in excitement. “Yay!” They pick up the bow tie. Alyssa and her mom also pick out a white dress with a collar with buttons down the front. It’s sort of like a boy’s shirt, but a dress. Alyssa thinks it will look cool with the bow tie.
On the morning of the first day of school, Alyssa is very, very excited. She hardly eats any of her breakfast, even though her dad made waffles. Her dad shows her how to tie the bow tie. It’s harder than tying your shoe!
Alyssa’s dad walks her to the bus stop. When they get there, Alyssa’s friend Aveed is waiting there already with her mom. “Hi Aveed!” Alyssa says. She’s happy to see her friend. “Is that your dad’s?” Aveed says, pointing to Alyssa’s new bow tie. “Um, no,” Alyssa says. “It’s mine!” “But bow ties are for boys!” Aveed says. Alyssa is embarrassed. That is what her mom said, too! Maybe she shouldn’t wear the bow tie. But she also doesn’t want to take it off in front of her dad. So she just shrugs and says nothing.
The bus comes, and Alyssa and Aveed get on. They sit together. Another classmate Tommy gets on at the next stop. “Bow ties are for boys!” Tommy says. “Don’t you know that?” “Yes,” Alyssa mumbles. Now she is really embarrassed. All the new kids will think she’s dumb for wearing a bow tie. She will ask the teacher when she gets to school to help her take it off.
When they get to school, Alyssa and Aveed walk across the parking lot toward the front doors. Alyssa has her head down. Suddenly, Alyssa hears, “A bow tie! That’s so cool.” Alyssa looks up, and sees a 7th grader looking at her. “What?” Alyssa says. “I like your bow tie!” the older girl says. “It is very cool. You must be very creative.”
Alyssa doesn’t feel embarrassed anymore. She likes being creative. She can’t wait to show her bow tie to her art teacher. When one of her classmates says, “Bow ties are for boys,” Alyssa says, “Bow ties are for everyone. Especially if you are creative, like me!”
Words
bow tie
excited
first impressions
department store
past
the boys’ section
pink
stripes
collar
buttons
down the front
hardly
even though
waffles
your dad’s
to point
embarrassed
to take off
to shrug
to mumble
dumb
suddenly
