It was a very sunny day. The sun was shining and Esmeralda was picking up the boxes her dad had packed.

"Dad, I don't want to go to a new school. I mean the house is nice but I miss my old friends" whined Esmeralda.

"Esmy, this is better for us. Look, you are going to make lots of new friends and you will feel better" Esmeralda's dad explained.

Esmeralda finishes helping her dad and goes upstairs to her new room. She sits down on her bed and stares outside the window. She can't help feeling upset because she knows she is different from other girls and the new girls won't be as accepting. She didn't like dresses or pink, especially not PINK! She hated pink more than peanut butter on corn, which was not Esmeralda's least favorite thing. 

Esmeralda's dad noticed Esmeralda was feeling blue. To make her feel better, he bought her a pair of shoes. Esmeralda's dad knows her so well, they are like best friends.

Knock! Knock! Esmeralda's dad opened Esmy's door, seeing her laying down with a frown on her face.

"Esmy, I got you something, open it?, Danny, Esmeralda's dad inquired.

"Okay, but father, I would like you to know that as a strong 10 year old, I have decided to be a

feminist" Esmy replies as she opened the box.

Esmeralda's face lit up in joy. She said thank you at least 20 times. Danny hugged his daughter and said, "Remember Esmy, you don't have to be what everyone expects." Danny kissed his daughter on the forehead and left.

Esmy stared in shock at the shoes. There, the beautiful blue shoes sat in her lap. These shoes were her favorite pair yet. After admiring the pair, she set down the shoes cautiously and began to get dressed for bed.

Wow!!! Thank you thank you thank you!...

The next morning, Esmy got ready for school and went down to eat breakfast. Esmy wasn't exactly the most excited for her first day at her new school. Danny drove her and that is where her morning went downhill. Esmeralda went to school with her new blue shoes. As soon as she entered, she noticed every girl had pink shoes with sparkles. Everybody stared at her, not with a look of welcome. Esmy expected everybody to be staring because she was a new face of course, however, their eyes all were drawn to her shoes.

Immediately, Esmy traveled to her first class in hope to make at least one friend. As she walked in, she saw a flier for cheer leading tryouts after school. She had won a few trophies so she decided to try out. Later that day, Esmy went to the gym and saw other girls there her age.

Cheer leading tryouts!

She gave them a smile but they didn't smile back.

"Uh, hi? Is this cheerleading tryouts?" Esmy asked, shyly.

"Yeah, are you lost? This tryouts for girls only, no boys" Mckenzie scowled and the other girls snickered.

Esmeralda instantly frowned, she had never been mistaken for a boy in her life. She felt so embarrassed but before she could leave, a girl had stopped her.

"Wait, uh, stay" the girl said, hesitantly.

She grabbed Esmy's arm and pulled her gently. Mckenzie rolled her eyes and took the other girls to look at her bracelet her boyfriend had given her.

"I am sorry about her, she isn't always that mean", the girl stated with reassurance.

"Oh, it's fine, what's your name?" asked Esmy, curiously.

"Maddie, and yours?" Maddie asked before drinking from her water bottle.

"Esmeralda, you can call me Esmy though", Esmy replied.

I'm sorry about her, she isn't always that mean"

Oh, it's fine, what's your name?

"Alright Esmy, well tryouts start in about 10 minutes" Maddie said, smiling. After tryouts were over, Danny drove Esmy home where dinner was made. Esmy finished eating and brushed her teeth and put on her pajamas. She couldn't sleep that night because she kept wondering if she made the cheer team. Finally, Esmy fell asleep staring at the stars which showed through her window. In the morning, Esmy rushed getting ready and hurried her dad out the door. She wanted to see if she has made the team. As soon as she opened her school's door, she ran to the board which held up the names of who was on the team. Esmy searched speedily through the list and sprang up into the air in excitement because she saw her name there.

However, that feeling didn't last very long Before she could even enjoy her celebration dance, Mckenzie, Jenna, Amber, and Caty came storming up to her.

"Ugh, can you believe they let a BOY be on the girl's cheerleading team?,Mckenzie asked rhetorically, meaning for Esmy to hear.

"I know right, ha blue shoes on a girl? What a weirdo", teased Caty, shaking her head in shame.

Esmeralda just stood there not knowing what to do, a tear fell down her cheek. Maddie saw all four girls ganged up on Esmy and ran over there. She went in front of Esmy and the girls' faces. The girls all left.

"Hey, are you okay? I know this is kinda soon but do you want to hang out after school today?"

Do you want to hang out after school?

Maddie wondered, afraid of rejection.

" Yeah, that would actually be really awesome. I could use a friend right now, thanks" ,Esmy responded with a huge grin on her face.

Once school ended, Esmy and Maddie walked to Maddie's house together and they played four square in her driveway. Maddie's mom made snacks so the two girls went inside to cool down.

"Esmy, I 'm sorry those girls bully you but if you don't mind me asking, who you have blue shoews anyway?" Maddie asked.

"I don't know, I just like them and my dad told me I don't always have to be what everyone expects, the color pink is what every girl has", Esmy answered.

"Oh, well mabe you should ask your dad for pink shoes, I am sure he will buy you them"Maddie suggested.

"Why? I like blue, not pink and plus I want to be unique", Esmy said angrily.

"Oh..", replied Maddie.

It became silent and awkward. Esmeralda didn't forgive her, it really angered her because Maddie was supposed to be her friend. Friends accept eachother