Eva The Secret Unicorn

Chapter 1

First Bell for Little Eva

Eva held the school gate with both hands.

Maplewood Elementary stood beyond it, bright and busy. Bells rang inside. Shoes tapped on the path. The playground smelled of warm sand and fresh grass.

Eva took a slow breath. Today was her first day at school. She looked like a little six-year-old girl, with brown shoes, a yellow dress, and two neat braids. Under her dress, her unicorn tail was tucked safely away. Her horn was hidden beneath a soft blue hat.

“Remember,” Eva whispered, “I am six. Just six.”

She stepped through the gate.

The playground was like a maze made of swings, slides, painted lines, and running children. A grown-up pointed to a sign.

“Walk near the gate,” she said. “Wait your turn. Keep sand in the sand box.”

Eva nodded. “I can do that.”

A child rolled a red ball past her. Another child hurried toward the swings. Eva moved aside, but her shoe caught a rope. The swing squeaked, and a little puff of golden light popped from her hat.

Eva quickly pressed the hat down.

“Did you see that?” asked a child nearby.

“See what?” Eva said. She gave a small smile. “Maybe it was sunshine.”

The child shrugged and ran after the ball.

Eva hurried to the sand box. She wanted to look ordinary. She picked up a blue cup and began to fill it. But the sand glittered under her fingers. Tiny rainbow sparks danced around the cup.

“Oh, no,” Eva breathed.

She covered the sparks with both hands. The sand felt warm and soft. Her magic wanted to play, just like she did.