Sharing the Magic

The classroom buzzed with a different kind of energy today. It wasn’t the usual lunchtime chatter or the rustle of turning pages. Today, Mrs. Gable’s voice, usually as soft as a whisper, boomed with excitement. “Class, for our ‘Show and Tell’ next week, I want you to bring something truly special. Something that tells a story. Something that is uniquely *you*!”

Lily’s pencil stilled over her drawing of a particularly grumpy-looking ladybug. Uniquely *her*? Her stomach did a little flip. Most of the other children immediately started jabbering. “I’ll bring my new robot!” declared Tom, his eyes shining. “It walks and talks!” Sarah bounced in her seat. “I’m going to bring my prize-winning painting of a unicorn!” A chorus of other ideas, each louder and more dazzling than the last, filled the air. Lily felt a familiar tightness creep into her chest. Her grumpy ladybug felt decidedly un-special compared to walking robots and prize-winning unicorns.

She glanced at Mr. Snuggles peeking out of her backpack, his button eyes offering silent, comforting support. He knew her secret, the one that made her tummy feel wobbly when the other children’s voices got too loud. He knew how much she loved her quiet place.