Tuesday’s are special days at Odessa Elementary School. That’s because friendships are blooming.

“I wake up and usually I'm pretty grumpy but then I remember I'm seeing Holly today," said 10-year-old Grace Kliewer.

Grace Kliewer and 8-year-old Holly Evans have been spending time together once a week since August.

“Holly has disabilities which have made it challenging for her to make friends at times," said Holly’s mom, Robyn Evans. But not since Holly met Grace.

“We love Tuesdays, when we know Grace is coming to Holly’s class,” said Evans. “We know on that day Holly's going to have her good buddy come over and spend time with her."

Holly doesn’t speak, but Grace says she understands her.

“She screams when she's happy and laughs," said Grace.

The two are part of Odessa Elementary’s buddy program where older students pair with younger students from the Exceptional Student Education program.

“The day that she came home after meeting her buddy for the first time was a different Grace," said Grace’s mom, Noele Kliewer. Grace and Holly’s parents say they’ve seen a change in their daughters, something remarkable.

“Grace has really gained something very special by learning how to be a friend with someone who can't communicate back to her," said Kliewer.

The friendship has grown so close it’s now graduated the classroom, but it all started with that one Tuesday.

“It goes Monday, Holly day, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday in our house," said Kliewer.

The buddy program at Odessa Elementary started a few years ago and has grown in participation each year.