The school was small but it felt big to the two small 6-year-olds. It was nothing like either of the boys had ever seen before. And the biggest thing was both of the boys' dads didn't care enough to bring their own sons to their first day of school. Some fathers they were.

Chris confidently strode into the building although a bunch of other older kids were surrounding him, carelessly shoving him to the side as they walked by. At that time it had nothing to do with him being a no good Chambers kid. It was only because he was small and invisible to the bigger kids.

Gordie figured he should follow his new friend, so wiping the last small tear from his eyes, he headed forwards into the mass of humans.

Soon enough, Chris and Gordie came across a crazy looking kid named Teddy Duchamp. He wore coke-bottle sized glasses that kept sliding down his nose.

"Hi!" he shouted at the two guys while sitting in Mrs. Rose's classroom. "I'm Teddy Duchamp! My dad stormed the beach at Normandy!" he sounded evidently proud of his father. He was also very energetic.

Gordie and Chris both said hi back but let Teddy do all the talking. Soon enough, the three of them couldn't be separated.

Lastly, in their final hour of the day, the three best friends met Vern Tessio, the smallest looking kid in their grade. He seemed sort of shy, or was it fear that they detected in him?

"I feel bad for him," Chris whispered to Gordie while looking across the room at Vern, who looked like he had just peed his pants.

Gordie laughed and silently agreed. Just as quickly as that, Vern was taken under their wing, out of pure pity. But nevertheless, the four of them became inseparable friends, and they stayed that way.