Lincoln sits quietly at his desk, his hands folded, waiting for his turn to leave for speech class. His backpack rests beside him, adorned with a bright rocket patch, and his eager eyes glance at the clock, counting down the minutes. "I hope today is a good day for my s words," he whispers softly, practicing under his breath.

Lincoln sits across from his speech teacher, his feet swinging nervously. A stack of cards with words like “sun,” “snake,” and “sandwich” lies on the table between them. "Can I try the s words now?" he asks, his voice hopeful and determined. The teacher nods, smiling warmly, and together they go through the cards. Each time Lincoln pronounces an s word perfectly, his grin grows wider.

Lincoln beams as he receives a shiny sticker for reaching his s word goal. The sticker glimmers with bright stars, and his teacher’s praise fills the room. "You did it, Lincoln! Your s words sound wonderful," "Thank you! I worked really hard," Lincoln replies, his voice steady and joyful.

Lincoln listens intently, his hands fidgeting with the sticker on his shirt. He feels a mix of excitement and nervousness as he thinks about “bumpy speech.” "Sometimes my words get stuck," he confides, his voice wavering. "That’s okay, Lincoln. We’ll practice together, and soon your speech will feel smoother," the teacher reassures him.

Lincoln repeats sentences, focusing on breathing and pacing. He feels frustration when his speech is bumpy, but remembers the joy of earning his s word sticker. "I want my speech to glide like a slide," he says, determined. The teacher nods, encouraging him to take his time and celebrate every smooth phrase.

Lincoln stands tall, proud of his hard work and the journey ahead. He knows there will be challenges, but with determination and support, he can conquer them. "I’m not afraid of bumpy speech anymore," Lincoln says, his voice bright and strong. He smiles, knowing each day brings him closer to his goal.