The Hundred Dresses

In a small, quaint town surrounded by rolling hills and whispering trees, there stood a cozy little schoolhouse. The sun would often peek through the windows, casting beams of golden light over rows of wooden desks. In one corner sat Maddie, a kind-hearted girl with freckles and a head full of curiosity. One day, a new student named Wanda Petronski joined the class. Wanda was quiet, and she wore the same faded blue dress every day. Even though her dress was clean, some of the kids would tease her about it. "Look at her, Maddie," whispered Peggy, Maddie's best friend. "Can you believe she says she has a hundred dresses at home?" Maddie didn't like the teasing but didn't know how to stop it. Days turned into weeks, and one day, the teacher announced a drawing contest. Everyone was excited, especially Wanda. Quietly and diligently, she drew beautiful, colorful dresses—one for each day of the week, month, and beyond. Her imagination soared on paper, and soon, the classroom was filled with her art, turning the walls into a dazzling wardrobe of one hundred dresses. On the day of the contest, the teacher proclaimed, "The winner is Wanda Petronski, for her incredible, imaginative designs!" The children gasped in awe as they saw Wanda's artwork. They knew she had been true to her word. However, when they left the school to congratulate her, they found Wanda's seat empty. The teacher then shared sad news: Wanda's family had moved to a different town, tired of the teasing. Maddie felt a pang of regret. She realized that she could have been kinder, more supportive. Turning to Peggy, she said, "We need to make this right. Let's write a letter to Wanda and tell her how much we love her drawings and how sorry we are." Together, they penned a heartfelt letter, filled with apologies and admiration, and sent it to Wanda's new address. Weeks passed, and one day, a letter arrived for Maddie. It was from Wanda! In the letter, Wanda said she had received their note and that she missed her old school. She also enclosed two of her most beautiful dress drawings, one labeled for Maddie and one for Peggy. Maddie and Peggy framed the drawings and hung them in their rooms as a reminder that kindness is the most beautiful dress one can wear. From that day on, Maddie made a promise to stand up for others and always choose kindness first. And in the town surrounded by rolling hills and whispering trees, the lesson of the hundred dresses was never forgotten.