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It's recess time for the first-graders, but instead of scrambling up the ladder to the slide like half of the class is doing, John is sitting on a park bench to the side of the playground, his short legs dangling over the edge of the seat. There's a sketchpad in his lap and he's working on drawing a picture of a tree with a great big bird's nest in it. His round face is screwed up as he bows his head over the drawing, scribbling furiously to get the perfect shade of blue for that robin's egg protruding from the nest.

He's not the only one who isn't playing. Oscar is smoothing a small square tablecloth - likely the blanket he uses for naptime - onto a patch of grass at the edge of the playground, not far from where John is sitting. He's chattering animatedly about the weather to a stuffed bear while clutching an empty plastic teacup. He's a bit frustrated that no one else would join his tea party, and glances around him to see if he can't wheedle some lonesome soul into joining. He spots John and pats Teddy on the head, assuring him he'll be right back, and then gets to his feet, brushing some imaginary dust from the front of his pants.

John glances up at the sound of grass rustling and reaches for his box of crayons, putting the blue one away and reaching for yellow-green instead. He doesn't think Oscar would bother to talk to him, so he's a little surprised when the other boy stops in front of his bench and smoothes a tendril of his slightly floppy brown hair. "Excuse me," he says, folding his hands neatly. "I came to tell you that you are formally invited to a private tea party at the Corner of the Playground this afternoon." He smiles brightly at John. "I think you will be much better company than Teddy," he adds in a stage whisper, leaning towards John.

John sucks on the inside of his cheek, listening to all this, and then nods slowly. "Okay," he says, putting his crayons away and flipping the sketchpad closed as he slides off the bench.

"Really?" Oscar gushes, eyes wide. He throws his arms around John, who is quite a bit smaller than him, and gives him a squeeze, then draws back and grabs his hand, tugging him eagerly towards his party set-up. "Oh, thank you so much," he says, lacing his fingers with those of the smaller boy, who blushes faintly at all the attention. "Tell me, do you like banana nut or apple muffins better..."