Angelo stood near the swings, his eyes following the other kids as they played together. "I wish I had someone to play with," he murmured to himself, kicking a small pebble.

Angelo approached him, curiosity piqued. The boy looked up, surprised but friendly. "Hi, I'm Angelo. Do you want to play?" he asked with a hopeful grin.

The boy introduced himself as Eli. "Sure, I'd love to! What do you want to do?" Angelo suggested a game of tag, and soon they were running around, their faces lit with joy.

One of the older kids sneered. "What are you two doing here all alone?" Angelo felt a twinge of fear but stood his ground, determined not to let them spoil his new friendship.

Eli looked relieved. "Thanks for standing up for us," he said gratefully. Angelo shrugged, a smile returning to his face. "That's what friends are for."

Eli swung back and forth, feeling happy and accepted. Angelo looked at his new friend, feeling the warmth of companionship for the first time. "I can't wait for tomorrow," he said, and for the first time, he truly meant it.