The Morning Run

Maya runs to school every morning. She leaves her house at half past seven. She runs down the hill and turns left at the corner.

Every day, Maya sees the same man at the corner. He walks his dog at half past seven too. The dog is small and white. Its name is Snow.

"Good morning," Maya says.

"Good morning," the man says. They smile at each other.

One day, Snow runs to Maya. The man calls, "Snow! Come back!" But Snow runs to Maya and jumps on her legs.

Maya laughs. She kneels down and strokes Snow's white fur.

"I'm sorry," the man says. "Snow is friendly."

"Don't worry," Maya says. "I love dogs."

The man smiles. "I'm Tom," he says.

"I'm Maya," she says.

The next morning, Maya walks to school. She stops at the corner. She talks to Tom and plays with Snow. Now, every morning, Maya walks to school. She is never late. She has two friends at the corner now — Tom and Snow.