Mila's first day at nursery

That morning, Mila had a brand-new school bag with a ladybird on the front. Mum had drawn a little red heart in the hollow of her hand, in marker. "It's a kiss," said Mum. "If you close your hand, it stays inside."

They walked to school. Crunch, crunch, went the gravel under their feet. At the gate there were lots of people: dads, mums, children who were crying a little and others who were laughing loudly. Mila squeezed Mum's hand.

"Hello, Mila!" said the teacher. She had round glasses and a yellow cardigan. "Come and see your coat hook." At the end of the hallway, every hook had a picture. Mila's had a snail. "That one's yours," said the teacher. Mila hung her coat on the snail, very gently.

Then it was time to say goodbye. Mila closed her small hand. Mum bent down, kissed her cheek, and said, "I'll be back. After nap, and after snack." She waved from the door. Mila watched the door close. She opened her mouth to cry, but her hand was closed, so she squeezed it harder.

In the classroom there were cushions on the floor, a corner with a wooden kitchen and a big round rug. Ding! went the little bell. Everyone sat on the rug. The teacher brought out a hedgehog puppet, and the hedgehog said hello to each child by rubbing his nose against their hand. "Hello, Mila," he said in a tiny voice, and Mila just had to smile.

They sang a rain song: pit, pit, pat, with fingers tapping on knees. Mila tapped with her left hand. The right one stayed closed. They put blocks away in a big crate, clack, clack, clack. They ate a little roll, and Mila drank from a blue cup that was hers.

After lunch the teacher lowered the blinds. Everyone went to their own bed in the back room. They were very low, lined up like little boats. Mila's bed had a polka-dot blanket. She lay down with her cuddly toy and her closed hand resting on her cheek. Flump, went a cushion in the next room. The teacher whispered a song.

Mila opened her fingers a little and looked at the red heart in her palm. It was still there, a bit blurry. She closed it gently. She wasn't crying anymore. Outside, someone was watering the garden, sshh, sshh. Mila thought about the door, about Mum, about snack. And on the polka-dot bed, close to the snail in the hallway, she fell asleep, her hand closed tight around her kiss.