Noticing feelings
Zola made a paper bird for someone having a hard day
Somebody in her class had a rough morning. Not a dramatic one — no shouting, no tears anyone else caught. Just a very quiet person who put their head down on the desk for a bit.
Zola didn't ask what was wrong, which is often the kindest available option. She folded a small paper bird and left it next to their pencil case on the way past.
She told us afterwards that she didn't want to make a fuss. “Sometimes you just want somebody to notice and then leave you alone about it.”
Which is, frankly, wiser than most adults manage.
Try it this week: Leave something small and kind for somebody without saying anything about it.
Zola's word hunt
Five words from this story are hiding in the grid. They read across → and down ↓ — never backwards. Tap the first letter, then the last letter.
I
B
F
D
P
A
F
W
Z
B
I
R
D
R
K
P
V
T
Q
U
I
E
T
W
E
P
Q
P
H
R
T
Z
E
Z
O
L
A
M
C
D
P
A
P
E
R
N
O
D
M
B
J
A
T
J
U
Q
T
A
G
J
D
E
S
K
- ZOLA
- PAPER
- BIRD
- DESK
- QUIET