Chapter 21: Empathy- Julie and the Magic Shoes

Once upon a time, in the colorful town of Willowbrook, there lived a little girl named Julie. Julie loved adventures, but what she loved even more was her shiny red shoes. They weren’t just any shoes—they were magic!

Her grandma had said so with a wink. “These shoes,” she told Julie, “help you step into someone else’s world. It's called having empathy for someone else. You just have to imagine their feelings, and the shoes will do the rest.”

Julie wasn’t sure what Grandma meant until one rainy day at school. Her best friend Mia looked sad, sitting all alone. Julie wanted to cheer her up, so she tapped her shiny red shoes together and thought, What could Mia be feeling?

Suddenly, Julie felt a little droopy, like a wilting flower. She realized Mia must be feeling lonely. Julie sat beside her and said, “Want to play our favorite game after lunch?” Mia’s face lit up like the sun breaking through clouds. “Really? I’d love that!”

From that day on, Julie used her magic shoes everywhere she went. When Mr. Henry, the grumpy neighbor, yelled at her for playing too loud, she tapped her shoes and felt tired and achy. “Maybe he’s just having a tough day,” Julie thought, and brought him cookies instead. His frown melted into a big, warm smile.

The shoes taught Julie an important secret: when you imagine how others feel, you can make their world a little brighter. And the best part? You don’t even need magic shoes to do it. All it takes is a little heart.

So the next time you see someone looking down, think of Julie and her magic shoes. Step into their world, and you might just find a friend for life. Because, as Julie learned, empathy isn’t just magic—it’s the most wonderful adventure of all.

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