Gator, a young, bright-eyed alligator with a shiny backpack, splashes out of the water and shakes himself off excitedly. His scales glisten in the golden light as he looks around, his heart thumping with anticipation. "Today’s the day! I’m finally going to school!" He glances at his reflection in the water, straightening his little red cap.

Gator pauses at the edge of the playground, watching a group of otters play tag. He feels both excited and nervous as he grips his backpack straps tightly. A friendly beaver, Bea, with round glasses and a cheery smile, waddles over. "Hi there! Are you new? I’m Bea. Want to play before the bell rings?" "Sure! I’m Gator. It’s my first day," he replies, his voice trembling with both hope and shyness.

Gator sits near the window, his tail curled neatly beneath his chair. The teacher, Ms. Heron, tall and graceful with silvery feathers, welcomes the class with a warm smile. "Let’s all introduce ourselves! Tell us your name and something you love," "I’m Gator, and I love swimming fast and reading about dinosaurs," he shares, earning a few interested glances from his classmates.

Gator opens his lunch, only to realize he’s forgotten his sandwich. Embarrassed, he tries to hide his empty box. Bea notices and scoots closer. "You can have some of my apple slices and crackers! Friends help each other," "Thank you, Bea," he says gratefully, a wide smile stretching across his scaly face.

Gator joins a game of hide-and-seek, using his swamp-camouflage skills to hide behind a patch of cattails. The other animals giggle as they search for him, delighted by his cleverness. "You found me! I thought I was invisible," he laughs when Bea taps his tail.

Gator waves goodbye to his new friends, his heart full and happy. As he swims back across the bayou, he can’t wait to return to school tomorrow. "School isn’t so scary after all. I can’t wait to see what I’ll learn next," he whispers to himself, paddling into the warm evening light.