You are an absolutely unique amalgamation of attributes
Now it's time to find out in which you excel
What makes you S-P-E-C-I-A-L?

song: You're Special! - Dan Bulls

Dot stepped through the front doors of the bustling elementary building. The morning sun cast a warm glow over the halls. She saw students rushing inside the rooms. They chattered, laughter echoed through the hallways, and a palpable sense of excitement lingered in the air. She began weaving her way through the crowd, extending smiles and greetings to almost every student she encountered.

She enters her classroom filled with bustling students that chatted about their summer holidays. "Hello! Good morning!" Dot greeted a group of students as she passed by and looked for a seat. "Hi!" they replied in chorus, welcoming her with warm smiles.

She quickly makes friends with her classmates. With her charming energy, the room filled with smiles and glee, it made Dot a popular girl in school. She soon finds an empty seat at the far corner and there a boy sat next to it, his name is Skippy Squirrel - sporting a cherry red cap that hung over his head. He was sitting near the window, when he saw Dot ask him if the seat was occupied. Skippy shook his head, Dot grinned softly and sat in the armchair when he decided to start a conversation with her.

"So, you are the daughter of the principal? How come I haven't seen you at school?" Skippy's curious gaze met Dot's as he asked. Dot, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and nerves, replied, "Well, today is the first time I have been to a public school. Mother wanted to homeschool me, but I asked, and I mean begged, to let me go to public school. And now here I am."

Skippy's sweet grin widened, sensing the opportunity for a new friendship. "Well, since you're new, I could show you around the school. The school is so huge, so many classrooms and so many buildings. Like the whole school is connected, from pre-school to senior high." The genuine enthusiasm in Skippy's voice mirrored Dot's excitement. She couldn't help but be drawn to his infectious energy. "That's so cool! I can't believe I haven't been here before," Dot exclaimed, the unfamiliarity of public school making her feel both nervous and thrilled.

They connected instantly, asking how their summer holidays were, finding themselves falling into the same conversations and laughing at the same jokes. She felt like she'd known him for years, and he felt the same way. The banter, the shared laughter, and the genuine interest in each other's stories formed a cute friendship.

Skippy sticks by Dot's side, sitting beside each other in class and eating together on their snack break. She felt some kind of pit on her stomach, like a sense that something's gonna happen. She dismissed it as first-day jitters, after all, she knows that she's going to be safe here. They were talking about their plans for the school year when they saw a crowd forming around the playground.

"Hey, let's check it out." Pulled by Skippy's firm grip, Dot and Skippy waded into the loud crowd of their classmates. "Oh nice, you guys are just in time for the main event. You're going to like it, it's gonna be a bang!" Cindy Strata said, her eyes sparkling with excitement as the painted flecks of teal blue decorated her dress. Dot's gaze roamed around and settled on a few carefully constructed and painted firecrackers.

Wait a minute-

"Why are there firecrackers in the middle of the playground?" Dot asked them. "Well, Tinker has a thing planned, and you have got to see it!" Cindy urged the two to the front of the crowd. The boy, Tinker Ka-Boom, younger brother of Katie Ka-Boom, finished setting up and faced the class. "Hello my fellow 6th graders. I have a surprise for everyone!" he said, brandishing a large decorated firecracker in each hand.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their eyes burning with anticipation. Fear knotted in Dot's stomach as she realized what Tinker was planning. "This seems wrong..." she muttered to herself. She turned to Skippy, her eyes pleading for him to intervene, but it was too late for that now.

The air crackled with the anticipation of disaster as Tinker lit the fuse and declared; "Let's celebrate the first day of school!" A geyser of sparks erupted, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Dot and Skippy watched in horror as the fiery display quickly spiraled out of control, raining down upon the unsuspecting students.

Chaos erupted as the firecrackers exploded in all directions, sending shards of fiery debris hurtling towards the terrified students. Blood-curdling screams pierced the air as they scrambled to evade the explosive missiles, their small bodies shaking with fear and adrenaline. Dot and Skippy found themselves at the center of the mayhem, dodging and weaving as firecrackers whizzed dangerously close to their heads.

Desperately, the teacher tried to corral the panicked herd of students back inside, but it was futile against the relentless onslaught of exploding chaos. As they sought refuge, two stray firecrackers locked onto Dot and Skippy, determined to cause harm no matter where they took cover.

Panic surged through Dot's veins, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. Dot pushed Skippy behind her protectively and faced the danger head on. Dot shut her eyes in fear, hoping that it would not hit them. As if on autopilot, her hands rose and time seemed to slow. Dot's senses heightened, her heartbeat drowned out any sound of her classmate's hysteria. It was like she was underwater. The inky fur on her arms raised as an indescribable force seemed to wrap around her whole body. She felt herself instinctively attuned to the invisible forces that danced around her.

Dot opened her eyes and unleashed an invisible force. Skippy gasped as the firecrackers soared up to the sky and erupted, flashes of red and blue fireworks displayed. Dot felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Small droplets of blood welled up in the corners of her eyes. Her body weighed heavy, and suddenly leaned on Skippy for support.

Concern etched across Skippy's face, noticing Dot's distress, he led her away from the crowd towards the school building. Dot, though weakened, managed a small smile, grateful for Skippy's presence. As they entered the nurse's office, they tried their best to hide away Dot's crimson tears by wiping them off and covering her eyes with a handkerchief.

The nurse ushered Dot to the small bed, leaving the two friends alone in the room. "Thank you for saving me back there, Dot. How did you do that?" His words echoed with genuine wonder. Dot, still grappling with the unusual effects of her newfound abilities, shook her head, taking off the bloodied handkerchief. "I... I don't know, Skippy. It felt like some kind of power took over me." The words lingered in the air, heavy with the weight of the inexplicable.

Skippy's eyes widened, reflecting amazement. "Maybe you have some kind of superpower, like you can control things with your mind or something." His excitement was palpable, she felt sick. Just talking about this feels unreal, how can this be right? "Just like telekinesis," Skippy mused, the realization lighting up his face.

Dot's eyes widened at the implication, a realization hitting her like a sudden storm. "Oh my, I think I have telekinesis." The revelation hung in the air, an ability that seemed to defy the rules of their ordinary world. Skippy leaned in, his curiosity unbridled. "Do you think you can do it again?" His eagerness was infectious, a childlike fascination with the extraordinary.

"I... I'm not sure," Dot replied, her mind a whirlwind of uncertainty and fear. The weight of the revelation bore down on her, the fear of the unknown, and the fear of being perceived as different. She couldn't let this secret out. What would her mother think of her? Would she think that Dot was abnormal, her daughter not being the perfect normal girl that she wanted?

"Please don't tell anyone," Dot implored Skippy, her eyes pleading with desperation. "Especially not my mother. This stays between the two of us, okay?" Skippy gave her a nod, "I promise Dot, cross my heart." His hand rose in a solemn gesture, fingers forming an X over his heart.

At that moment, as their eyes locked and the unspoken understanding passed between them, Dot felt a sense of security, a burgeoning trust that went beyond mere words. With Skippy's promise, Dot knew she had found someone that she could trust, someone with whom she could share this burdening curse. The connection between them deepened, evolving beyond just mere friends. It was a moment of quiet affirmation, a silent agreement that they would face whatever challenges lay ahead together.

As Dot rested on the nurse's bed, eyes reflecting gratitude, Skippy pulled up a chair beside her. Their friendship, once a seed planted in the chaos of a schoolyard incident, has now sprouted into a resilient bond. Dot sheds away the last of her crimson tears as she stares silently at the blood-soaked handkerchief.

The door to the nurse's office suddenly creaked open. Nora went inside the room, rushing to her daughter's side. Her face had an unreadable expression. She quickly assessed the situation, her eyes narrowing as she noticed Dot's state. "Dot, are you alright? Did you get hurt back there?" Dot, still recovering, managed a weak smile. "I'm okay, Mother. It's just a little scratch," she reassured, but her mother could see right through her facade.

Nora, not entirely convinced, examined Dot carefully. Skippy, sensing the tension, shifted uncomfortably, trying to divert Nora's attention away from the blood stains on the handkerchief. He hid it behind his back as Nora faced the boy. "Who is he, and what is he doing here?" she asked, her gaze narrowing. "He, uh, helped me get here when the firecrackers went crazy." Dot explained, avoiding eye contact.

Nora's face softened a bit, but the skeptical expression was still there. "I'll call your driver, Dot. You're going home and taking a rest. I'm declaring today a half day in light of what happened." Nora decided with determination in her voice. She made another mental note to talk to Tinker Ka-Boom and look into disciplinary measures. As she started making calls, Dot and Skippy quickly exchanged social media details, promising to keep in touch. "Well, thank you, Skippy. I really appreciate you helping my daughter. You can go home now." Nora said, bidding goodbye to the two kids as she has more business to attend too, reminding Dot to wait at the front of the school. Before Skippy left, he receives a soft smile from Dot. She hoped he would have a safe travel home.

She stood alone at the front of the school, her classmates rushing past her to reunite with their families and hop onto school buses. As she waited for her ride, her mind was filled with conflicting thoughts about the events of the morning. The sun beat down harshly on her, while a warm breeze sent shivers down her spine. At that moment, everything felt chaotic and overwhelming. How can she have this kind of power? It doesn't feel real. Cutting off her train of thought was the driver calling her. She went inside and sat there in silence. She didn't expect her first day of school to cause such a bang.