"Hold on tight, Sophia!" David shouted, clutching his furry, blue cat as the world around them swirled like a giant snow globe.
David, a seven-year-old with a thirst for adventure and a love for dinosaurs, had discovered a secret: his toy chest was actually a time machine! He'd already visited the time of the dinosaurs (his favorite!), but today was different. Today, he was taking Sophia to school with him.
The swirling stopped, and they were in a bright, sunny classroom. Kids with feathery antennae and glittery skin giggled and played. Sophia, always up for an adventure, purred excitedly.
"Wow!" David said. "This is even cooler than dinosaur land!"
A little girl with shimmering scales approached them. "Hi! I'm Luna. Are you new here? What are those things on your head?"
David laughed. "These are my ears! And this is my best friend, Sophia. We came from the past, from a place called Fort Worth."
Luna's eyes widened. "The past! Is it true they didn't have jetpacks then?"
David shook his head, feeling a little shy. He was used to being the one asking the questions.
Luna showed them around the school. They zoomed around on hoverboards in gym class, learned about the different moons of Jupiter in science, and even had lunch (space snacks, yummy!). David learned that friendship was important, even if your friends were from a different time or planet.
During story time, David shared tales of Earth from his time. He talked about dinosaurs, cars, and his grandma's cookies. The other kids listened, wide-eyed, hanging onto his every word. He realized how special his home was, even if it didn’t have jetpacks… yet.
Suddenly, the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day.
"That was amazing!" David said, giving Sophia a hug. He was starting to feel a little homesick.
"Come back tomorrow!" Luna called out, waving goodbye.
"We will!" David promised.
As they stepped back into the time-traveling toy chest, David realized something important. Friendship wasn't about where you came from, what you looked like, or even what year you were born. It was about sharing adventures, learning from each other, and always having someone to laugh with, whether they had scales, fur, or just plain old skin.
Back in his room, surrounded by familiar toys and the sound of his mom cooking dinner downstairs, David smiled. He couldn’t wait to tell her all about his new friend, Luna, and the amazing school in the future. And he knew, with a friend like Sophia by his side, every day would be a new adventure, even without a time machine.
