It was “Favorites Day” at school— wear your favorite clothes, bring your favorite snack, share your favorite toy for show-and-tell.

That morning, Avery picked out his favorite Mickey Mouse sweater with matching Mickey Mouse pants, and red shoes that complimented his hair and cheeks.

Downstairs, he rummaged the cabinet for applesauce, crackers, and strawberry bars for snacks.

Then he picked out his favorite toy—today, a stuffed animal in the shape of a purple-and-teal snail.

As we walked to school, he carried it proudly.

“His name is Snail-or-Worm.”

But when we arrived at school, His face fell.

“It’s not stuffed-animal day.”

I looked around.

All his classmates were carrying toy cars, action figures, and dinosaurs.

“Stuffed animals are toys.”

He shook his head. Then placed Snail-or-Worm back in the stroller beside his baby sister and began to cry.

“What toy would you like instead? I can bring it to you.”

He paused.

“Toys are something from the toy box.”

His face hardened against the sadness inside.

Then he turned his back on Snail-or-Worm and headed to his classroom without a toy for show-and-tell.

~

I called Dani while walking home.

“What do I do?”

A few minutes later she texted me a list.

I ran through Avery’s room collecting toys. Five minutes later I had a bag slung over my shoulder and was riding my bike back to the school office.

His teacher brought him out to meet me.

He looked small, quiet, and unsure.

I opened the bag.

“Hey. Would you like one of these for show-and-tell?”

He peered inside. Hesitant at first, then with growing excitement he reached in and pulled out a plastic pig from the pumpkin patch last fall.

He squeezed it, and the pig oinked.