The Different Drummer

Yuki liked things that other kids her age didn't. She liked birdwatching, not pop music. She liked old maps, not video games. She liked eating lunch while reading encyclopedias, not chatting about TV shows.

"You're weird," said a girl named Bella one morning at the school bus stop. She didn't say it meanly — more like stating a fact. Like saying "the sky is blue."

Yuki shrugged. She'd heard it before. But that didn't mean it didn't sting.

At home, she asked Papa, "Why am I so different from everyone?"

Papa was a carpenter. He was building a table and stopped sanding to look at her. "Come here. Look at this table. See these pieces of wood?"

Yuki looked. There were different types — some dark, some light, some smooth, some with lots of grain patterns.

"If every piece were the same," said Papa, "the table would be boring. It's the different pieces that make it beautiful. And strong."

"But wood doesn't get called weird," said Yuki.

"No," said Papa. "But the most interesting people always do."

The next morning, Yuki decided to try something. Instead of hiding her interests, she would share them. She brought her bird book to school and left it open on her desk.

"What's that?" asked a boy named Marcus, pointing at a picture.

"That's a painted bunting," said Yuki. "It's one of the most colorful birds in North America. They're like tiny flying rainbows."

Marcus looked closer. "That's actually really cool. Are there any around here?"

"Not here, but I saw a goldfinch in the park last weekend. I can show you where if you want."

"Yeah, okay," said Marcus, surprised at his own interest.

By the end of the week, Yuki had started an unofficial birdwatching club. It had three members: her, Marcus, and a quiet girl named Deepa who turned out to know everything about owls.

Bella walked past them at lunch one day. "What are you guys doing?"

"Birdwatching," said Yuki. "Want to join?"

"That's weird," said Bella. Then she paused. "But... what kind of birds?"

She sat down. She stayed for the whole lunch.

Yuki smiled into her encyclopedia. Being different wasn't a problem to solve. It was a gift to share. You just had to find the people who were curious enough to look closer.