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Mishka sat alone in the sunny park. Everyone else had a friend. Mishka had a great big wish. “Today,” said Mishka, “I will say hello.”
A new friend sat on the bench nearby. Mishka bounced over. Boing! Boing! Boing! “I will do a PERFECT hello,” said Mishka.
Mishka waved hello. A big wave. Then a BIGGER wave. Splat! The ball flew into the daisies. “Whoops,” said Mishka.
Mishka tried a fancy bow instead. Down went Mishka's head. Crash! Right into the bench. “That was NOT the plan,” said Mishka.
Mishka tried a very cool wink. But then — Achoo! The sneeze blew the daisy chain through the air. Plop! It landed on the new friend's head.
The new friend stared. Mishka froze. “THIS IS A DISASTER!” said Mishka. The park felt very, very quiet.
Then another friend ran over. “What happened here?” they said. Now TWO friends were staring. Mishka's eyes went very, very wide.
“One more try!” said Mishka. Mishka jumped up for a grand hello. Squish! Right onto the cupcake. Frosting flew — bloop, bloop, BLOOP — onto everyone.
There was a big silence. Then — ha! HA! HA-HA-HA! All three of them burst out laughing. “Best hello EVER,” said the new friends.
Mishka and the two friends sat on the bench. Frosting was still on everyone's noses. Mishka felt warm and fizzy inside. The park felt full now.
At last, Mishka waved goodbye. Just a tiny, careful wave. Boing. “See you tomorrow,” said Mishka, and grinned.
