Friday had finally arrived, and Maya could feel the difference the moment she opened her eyes that morning. There was something special about Fridays at school. The week felt lighter, everyone seemed a little more cheerful, and even the teachers occasionally smiled when they announced, “Have a wonderful weekend!” Maya walked through the school gates with her backpack hanging over one shoulder, excited to see her best friend, Latisha. Just a few weeks ago, she had walked into her new…