Summary

After a month of American school Shirley still hasn't made many friends, and she wants to make friends. Shirley finds it is hard to make friends seeing as she can only speak a few words of English. She desperately wants to connect with others and is eventually asked to play baseball. She’s not good at it but loves to be a part of the game. Not many people are thrilled to have her play however.

The day after the baseball game, the class has to recite poems, except for Shirley. Shirley has memorized one despite the language barrier. She's learned it from her father’s records. As she starts, the class begins to laugh as Shirley has memorized the Mickey Mouse anthem instead of a poem. She is devastated and sulks most of the day.

Shirley’s mother signs her up for piano...