Léo and the Bracelet of Courage

Leo, 12 years old, is new at the Oak School. He always wears a red and green

woven bracelet. It’s the first day of school.

Leo tightly grips his mother's hand in front of the gate. His fingers tremble

like leaves in the wind. His mother tells him, “I’ll be back at

4:30 PM, my little lion!” Leo turns his bracelet three times, murmuring: “Red

for courage, green for mom.” During Classes Leo looks

at the clock every 10 minutes. He goes to the nurse's office twice a day for “stomachaches.”

He refuses the school outing: “What if mom forgets to come?” On the day of the