I like watching butterflies.
I
like
watching
butterflies
.
Sometimes I think I'm the only girl who notices these quiet but beautiful things.
Sometimes
I
think
I
'm
the
only
girl
who
notices
these
quiet
but
beautiful
things
.
But if it hadn't been for a crowded restaurant, I wouldn't have ever noticed Valeri.
But
if
it
had
n't
been
for
a
crowded
restaurant
,
I
would
n't
have
ever
noticed
Valeri
.
Valeri was a new student.
Valeri
was
a
new
student
.
She walked to class with her books against her chest and her head down.
She
walked
to
class
with
her
books
against
her
chest
and
her
head
down
.
She talked only when the teacher asked her a question.
She
talked
only
when
the
teacher
asked
her
a
question
.
After a month at our school, she hadn't made any friend.
After
a
month
at
our
school
,
she
had
n't
made
any
friend
.
One day at lunch, most tables being full, I had nowhere to sit.
One
day
at
lunch
,
most
tables
being
full
,
I
had
nowhere
to
sit
.
Valeri sat alone, book in hand.
Valeri
sat
alone
,
book
in
hand
.
I walked over to her, "Is that a good book?"
I
walked
over
to
her
,
``
Is
that
a
good
book
?
''
Valeri gave a small nod and went back to reading.
Valeri
gave
a
small
nod
and
went
back
to
reading
.
"What's it about?"
``
What
's
it
about
?
''
I asked.
I
asked
.
After seconds of silence, she looked at me, her eyes shining, "Well, it's about a dragon!
After
seconds
of
silence
,
she
looked
at
me
,
her
eyes
shining
,
``
Well
,
it
's
about
a
dragon
!
This boy, Eragon, finds this dragon egg when he goes playing one day.
This
boy
,
Eragon
,
finds
this
dragon
egg
when
he
goes
playing
one
day
.
He thinks it's a rock!
He
thinks
it
's
a
rock
!
The egg hatches and Eragon hides the dragon from his cousin and uncle until it gets too big."
The
egg
hatches
and
Eragon
hides
the
dragon
from
his
cousin
and
uncle
until
it
gets
too
big
.
''
Two weeks later, I was sitting in the auditorium enjoying the talent show.
Two
weeks
later
,
I
was
sitting
in
the
auditorium
enjoying
the
talent
show
.
Then a shy girl walked on stage.
Then
a
shy
girl
walked
on
stage
.
I recognized her immediately.
I
recognized
her
immediately
.
Valeri held a violin in one hand and a bow in the other.
Valeri
held
a
violin
in
one
hand
and
a
bow
in
the
other
.
She started to play.
She
started
to
play
.
The notes formed a soft, sweet tune.
The
notes
formed
a
soft
,
sweet
tune
.
The auditorium fell completely silent until we realized the music was finished.
The
auditorium
fell
completely
silent
until
we
realized
the
music
was
finished
.
I smiled to myself.
I
smiled
to
myself
.
Valeri wasn't just "a quiet girl".
Valeri
was
n't
just
``
a
quiet
girl
''
.
She knew about wonderful books and could play the violin like nothing I'd ever heard.
She
knew
about
wonderful
books
and
could
play
the
violin
like
nothing
I
'd
ever
heard
.
Like a butterfly, she was beautiful and amazing when you looked closely.
Like
a
butterfly
,
she
was
beautiful
and
amazing
when
you
looked
closely
.
I like watching butterflies. Sometimes I think I'm the only girl who notices these quiet but beautiful things. But if it hadn't been for a crowded restaurant, I wouldn't have ever noticed Valeri.  Valeri was a new student. She walked to class with her books against her chest and her head down. She talked only when the teacher asked her a question. After a month at our school, she hadn't made any friend.  One day at lunch, most tables being full, I had nowhere to sit. Valeri sat alone, book in hand. I walked over to her, "Is that a good book?" Valeri gave a small nod and went back to reading. "What's it about?" I asked. After seconds of silence, she looked at me, her eyes shining, "Well, it's about a dragon! This boy, Eragon, finds this dragon egg when he goes playing one day. He thinks it's a rock! The egg hatches and Eragon hides the dragon from his cousin and uncle until it gets too big."  Two weeks later, I was sitting in the auditorium enjoying the talent show. Then a shy girl walked on stage. I recognized her immediately. Valeri held a violin in one hand and a bow in the other. She started to play. The notes formed a soft, sweet tune. The auditorium fell completely silent until we realized the music was finished. I smiled to myself. Valeri wasn't just "a quiet girl". She knew about wonderful books and could play the violin like nothing I'd ever heard. Like a butterfly, she was beautiful and amazing when you looked closely.