The First Hello

Today is Kota's very first airplane. His family is flying to an island far across the sea. The airport buzzed with announcements in words he didn't know. "I can't speak ANY English… will I be okay?" In his backpack rode his good-luck charm: a drawing pad and crayons. Out the window, a great airplane flashed in the sun.

On the plane, a girl about his age settled in across the aisle — wheat-gold hair, freckles. She caught Kota's eye, smiled wide, and said: "Hi!" Kota froze solid. His face went hot; his mouth wouldn't move. In a panic, he pretended to study the window.

There was so much he wanted to say — but he couldn't make "hello" or "I'm Kota" come out in English. Then he peeked over: the girl was DRAWING on her tray table. …Wait. Kota's heart went thump. Drawing — that, he could do. Quietly, he slid the pad out of his backpack.

Kota drew his favorite thing at top speed — a dinosaur — and, heart pounding, held it out across the aisle. The girl's eyes went perfectly round. "WOW!! DINOSAUR!!" Di-no-saur… so that's how you say it! "D-dinosaur!" Kota tried. Their eyes met — and they both burst out laughing. One word had crossed the ocean between them.

Her name was Lily. From then on, the drawing pad became their shared language. An apple: "Apple!" The ocean: "Sea!" "Plane!" Every time Kota echoed a word, Lily applauded. Her treasure, she showed him, was a white hat with a sunflower — "Grandma made it." Their tray tables filled up with words and pictures.

The arrival airport was packed. "Bye, Kota!" Lily waved and walked ahead with her family. And then — Kota saw it. Left behind on her seat: the white sunflower hat. Grandma-made. Lily's treasure. Her back was already melting into the crowd — by the time he fetched his mom, it could be too late.

Hat clutched tight, Kota thought fast. To stop her, he'd have to call out in English — the magic words from the plane: Excuse me. Dad stood right beside him, too. It's okay. Now — build Kota's call with your cards!

He filled his lungs — "E-EXCUSE ME!!" The voice that came out surprised even him. In the crowd, Lily spun around. Kota held the hat high over his head. "MY HAT!!" She came running back — and the pounding in his chest turned into something proud.

"THANK YOU, Kota!!" Lily hugged the hat to her chest — then squeezed Kota's hand tight. Hearing her say his name was the best part of all. They each tore a page from the drawing pad and traded: a dinosaur for a sunflower. The pictures made the promise: see you again.