I worried the next morning as I walked to school,

wearing my clean sweatshirt.

What if Ainsley didn’t like my no-secrets plan?

What if she stayed mad?

Would Pearl be friends with me anyway?

Would she ever play with me at recess?

And be partners with me in science?

Or would she always choose Ainsley?

My dad told me everything would be okay

as he kissed me good-bye.

I didn’t believe him.

But then I walked into the classroom

and saw Ainsley and Pearl.

They were both wearing pale pink sweatshirts.

Ainsley’s was covered in sparkly rhinestone bows.

And Pearl’s had sparkly rhinestone stripes.

They waved at me

and I hurried to them,

wearing my own rhinestoned sweatshirt.

We stood together,

smiling at one another—

a very glittery trio.

And then Pearl said,

“I am as happy

as a puppy gulping down

a whole bag of treats.”

And I thought,

That’s my best friend, Pearl.

She’s going to be a famous poet someday.

I just know it.