The Stories Julian Tells

Scared of being mocked, Julian doesn’t want any female friends—until he meets Gloria. He’s walking with his mother and Huey, who are both talking with friends, and he feels lonely. As they near their house, they see a moving van and people carrying furniture and boxes into a neighboring house.

A young girl—Gloria—approaches, and she and Julian introduce themselves to each other. Gloria is from Newport, and while Julian doesn’t know much about the town, he does know it’s on the coast. Gloria asks if he can do a cartwheel and then does two herself. Julian tries and fails. He plans to leave and forget her if she laughs, but she doesn’t. Instead, she acknowledges that cartwheels take practice.

Julian takes Gloria to see a robin’s nest in her new yard. The children’s presence disturbs the robin’s parents, so Julian and Gloria go back to the front of the house.

Julian invites Gloria to his house, and she checks with her mother, who allows it. Julian shows her his rock collection and games, and they make and drink Kool-Aid together, both getting red mustaches from their beverages.

Julian says he wishes Gloria would live next door for a long time, and Gloria agrees.