Poinky
and
the Truck

A tiny stuffed pig was hanging on a board next to the register.

It had a squashed round nose and two bright blue eyes. One pointy ear stood straight up. The other ear flopped over.

It was so small! And it looked so soft! Posey longed to touch it.

“Go ahead.” The lady behind the counter smiled at her. “You can hold it.”

Posey tried to pull the pig’s squishy body off the board.

It was stuck.

The lady laughed. “It has magnets in its feet,” she said. “You have to pull a little harder. Like this.”

She pulled the pig off the board.

“Hold up your finger,” she said.

Posey held up her index finger. The lady wrapped the pig’s legs around it.

Click! Click! The feet snapped together.

The pig held on tight. It felt as if it already loved her.

And Posey already loved it.

“Looks like you’ve made a friend,” said Gramps.

“Can we buy it?” Posey asked. “Please?”

“I think we’re going to have to,” Gramps said. “It doesn’t look like it’s going to let go of you anytime soon.”

“Thank you, Gramps.”

Posey brushed the pig across her cheek. It was as gentle as a puff of air.

“She’s a girl,” she said. “Her name is Poinky.”

“Poinky, huh?” said Gramps.

“P because she’s a pig,” Posey explained. “Plus oink.”

“We’ll take them both,” Gramps told the lady. “Poinky and the truck, please.”