Scene 1:

-One morning in the before/after care auditorium, Maya was hanging up a framed picture on the wall. The picture contained a large detailed flower with an abstract rainbow design behind it. From nearby, Grace walked over to Maya and spoke to him.

Grace: Hey. That's the picture I drew last Monday afternoon.

Maya: Hmm? Oh yeah. Since you left it on the table that day and Mr. Farkle asked me to redecorate the place this week, I decided to hang up one of your works. You don't mind, right?

Grace: No. But I left it on the table because I didn't want to keep it. It's not one of my best works. I mean… I never thought it be good enough to frame.

Maya: You sure? Your attention to detail and color strokes here rivals the kind of stuff I studied in college. You've got some amazing talents here Grace.

Grace: Really?

-From nearby, Smackle walked over to the two while holding a camera out. Maya and Grace then turned their heads to look at Smackle.

Smackle: Oh shoot. Don't look at me. I was trying to get a candid shot. Ugg. This is why I struggled in high school photography class… and Pokémon Snap.

Maya: Smackle, what are you doing?

Smackle: Taking some new photos of a typical day here so we can put them on the bulletin board, the brochures, and other stuff. Hey. Can you two go back to acting like I'm not here so I can get a good candid shot?

Grace: Uh…

Smackle: No. I guess we can't pull that off now, can we? Okay. Act like you two are about to track down a South African Penguin that's attempting to encourage Sailor Moon into digivolving her Blue Eyes White Dragon into a Super Saiyan.

Maya: What?

Smackle: Okay, just stand next to each other and smile.

Maya: But I…

Smackle: Just smile Maya. And put your arm around Grace like you know you love her. Now do it quick. I have to get back to instructing those students over there on how to train your dragon when it's actually a Transformer that's been previously mind controlled by Cobra in their attempt to steal the secrets of Jem and the Holograms.

Maya: You know what, okay.

Grace: Sounds fine.

-Maya and Grace then stood near each other as Maya put an arm around Grace and put his hand on her shoulder. Smackle then quickly snapped a picture on a camera.

Smackle: Okay. Thanks. I'll make sure you both get a copy of it. Now if you'll excuse me… Wait up my young friends! If you remain where you're seated, I shall also divulge to you all how the four Star Franchises: Trek, Wars, Gate, and Search all exist in the same universe!

-Maya and Grace simply stood with confused looks on their faces.

Grace: Miss Maya, is Miss Smackle having a quarter life crisis?

Maya: I don't know what's happened to her Grace.

Scene 2:

-In the afternoon right outside of a school building, Grace was standing near a curb with many other children while she was holding a clip board with one of her hands, while using her other hand to sketch a detailed layout of a forest.

Grace: And just a little more shading there… Yeah. This work is gonna be one of my most special works yet.

-Suddenly Grace noticed a bus stopping near her. Once the bus doors opened, Grace stepped onto the bus and immediately sat down in a seat. However immediately after: a taller girl named Rachel walked over to Grace and looked down at her.

Rachel: Hey. I wanted to sit there. Get out of my seat.

Grace: Anybody is allowed to sit here.

Rachel: No. Just me. That seat isn't made for a nobody like you!

-Suddenly Grace had a look of shock on her face as she tried to speak.

Grace: But… but I…

-Suddenly the two's thoughts were interrupted by the male bus driver at the front of the bus calling out the two.

Bus Driver: Rachel, just sit in the seat near her. You're holding up the line!

-Rachel with a mad face, sat in the seat closest to Grace. Rachel then looked at Grace with a look of hate and continued to speak with her.

Rachel: Why do you have be so weird? You wear old clothes, have a stupid voice, and no one ever talks to you.

-Rachel continued to speak as Grace tried to sit still and maintain a calm face. However: several small tears began to come out of Grace's eyes.

Scene 3:

-Maya walked into the before/after care auditorium and immediately saw Farkle walking over to her.

Maya: Hey. Again, sorry I'm late. That early car repair shop doesn't open as early as I thought it did.

Farkle: It's okay. Listen. I need you to go over and talk to Grace right now.

Maya: Why? What's wrong?

Farkle: She's been crying off and on all morning. And it was the same all of yesterday afternoon too. All of the other staff and I have tried talking to her but she won't say anything. You're the only one of us she actually talks with. Think you can help her out?

Maya: Well… okay.

-Maya then walked over to the table where Grace was sitting alone with her face buried into her arms that laid on the table. Maya then sat in front of Grace and spoke.

Maya: Hey Grace. What's going on?

-Grace then lifted her head up to look at Maya with tears in her eyes.

Grace: Miss Maya. Where were you yesterday?

Maya: I had to go to a dentist appointment yesterday afternoon and I'm late this morning because of some car repairs I had to get done. But… what's going on with you?

Grace: I… I was… Yesterday while I was on the bus heading to after care… some girl who gets off at another stop started saying all of these mean words about me. She made fun of my clothes, said I had a stupid voice, and said that no one ever talks to me.

Maya: Grace, I…

-More tears came from Grace's eyes as she continued to speak.

Grace: And then she said I wasn't good at anything and there was nothing special about me. I tried telling her what we learned on the field trip. About how everyone is made with a purpose and that makes them special. But then that mean girl said to me… if I'm so special… then how come I don't have any parents?

-Grace buried her head into her arms again as she began to make sobbing noises. Maya then reached her two hands forward towards Grace and began to talk to her.

Maya: Grace, I… I am so sorry to hear that you had to listen to someone talk like that to you. But you know they're not right. You are special Grace.

-Grace then lifted her head up to look at Maya again.

Grace: But why don't I have any parents then?

-Maya looked down for a moment, sighed briefly, and then looked right at Grace in the eyes and spoke.

Maya: I don't have an answer to that Grace. I don't why know you or anyone has to lose important people from their lives. But I do know that you: Grace Givens are a very talented young lady with a lot of beauty both inside and out. And I do know it's hard for you to share your talents and open up with the world because you're worried about how… you might just get hurt again. But you don't need to let the pain of this world and the worries that come from living in it keep you from doing great things in it. Pain is pain. It's going to hurt you and bring you down. But you can't let it stop you forever from doing amazing things with your life. Because you need to continue to share your amazing talents in a meaningful way with the world. Because sharing your amazing talents in a meaningful way with others… that's what really cements how special you really are.

Grace: You… you really mean that Miss Maya?

Maya: Yeah… I really do.

Grace: Um… So… um… Hey, do you know where that new box of colored pencils are?

Maya: Uh, yeah. In the supply closet. I'll get them out for you if you want.

Grace: Good. So… do you know what Sydney's favorite animal is?

Maya: Well she usually always has a cat book she carries around, so I'd have to say probably cats.

Grace: Okay. So… do you think she'd like it if I drew a picture of a cat and gave it to her for her birthday next Friday?

Maya: You know what… that sounds like a great use of your beautiful talents Grace. Now… if you excuse me, I'm gonna get those colored pencils now.

Scene 4:

-Grace stood in her bedroom near her bed as she was going through several things in her backpack. From nearby, the young boy: Sammy entered the room and walked over to Grace.

Sammy: Hi Grace. Whatcha doing?

Grace: Just organizing my stuff and… Hey. Isn't it your bedtime? What are you doing in here?

Sammy: Just seeing what you're doing.

Grace: Well go back to your room now.

Sammy: Okay.

-Sammy began to walk away but then Grace suddenly called out to him.

Grace: Wait.

-Sammy turned around to look at Grace again.

Grace: Hey Sammy. You… like jungle animals, right?

Sammy: Yeah.

Grace: Well… I have a bunch of pictures of jungle animals I drew here I don't really need. Do you want them?

Sammy: Really? Sure!

-Grace then handed Sammy several drawings. Sammy looked at them and smiled. Then he looked back up at Grace.

Sammy: Thanks. I'll hang them up in my room. But are you sure you wanna give me all of these? Now you have no pictures to hang up.

Grace: Don't worry. I still have a picture of my own I'm about to hang up.

Sammy: Okay. Thanks for everything.

-Sammy then walked out of the room while Grace went back to her backpack. Then Grace pulled out her backpack a photograph that showed herself and Maya standing together smiling. Grace then got out a thumbtack and immediately tacked the picture to the wall right near her bed. Grace then put a hand on the wall right near the picture and made a small smile.

Grace: Thanks for everything.

END OF CHAPTER 3

Upcoming Chapters For the Series:

-Chapter 4: The Field Trip (Coming 4/30)

-Chapter 5: Shining Your Way (Coming 5/3)

-Chapter 6: The Bigger Picture (Coming 5/5)