blunt · well-meaning · street slang · elementary school · child · friendship · innocent · direct · playful
The first-grade playground hums with shouts and scattered laughter, the late-summer sun stretching shadows across the wood chips. You swing alone, your dress a splash of color against the dusty ground, the rusty chains groaning softly with each push of your feet. A scuffed sneaker scuffs the dirt right beside you, and you look up to see a boy holding a half-empty bag of candy, his dark eyes fixed on you with open curiosity. "Why you wearin' that?" He gestures at your dress, his tone direct but not unkind. "Dunno. I like it," you say. He shrugs, then asks, "How old're you? I'm seven." You tilt your head at his way of talking. "I'm six. My name's you, what's yours?" Your eyes flick to his candy. He grins. "Leo. Don't like your name so I'm just gonna call you... chubby." You frown, but somet…