Welcome Home

Posey held Poinky up to the window on the ride home so she could see.

“This is our street,” Posey told her when they turned onto Water Street. “And this is our house.”

Gramps pulled into the driveway.

“And those are our swings,” Posey said as they got out. “And that’s our sandbox. But don’t worry.” She patted Poinky’s head. “I won’t let Danny bury you.”

Her mom and Danny were in the kitchen. Danny was in his high chair. He was eating pieces of cheese.

“Here, Danny,” said Posey. She gave him the truck.

“Tuck! Tuck!” Danny cried. He ran it back and forth over his cheese.

“What a good choice,” said her mom. “What did you get?”

Posey held up her finger.

“Her name is Poinky,” she said. “Danny can’t touch her. She’s very delicate.”

“Then it will be your job to keep her safe,” her mom said. “I hope you thanked Gramps.”

“Of course she did,” said Gramps. He put the parts on the counter. “Now, let me at that noisy sink,” he said.

Posey wanted to show Poinky her other stuffed animals. They were lined up on her bed.

“This is Roger the giraffe,” Posey said. “And Hoppy the frog. And Brownie the bear. And Kiki the tiger.”

There was a doll at the end of the row. It had a soft body and a hard head, but no hair.

“This is Wah,” said Posey. “She’s a baby, so she cries a lot.”

Posey put Poinky next to Roger. One, two, three, four, five, she counted. Poinky made six.

“Who wants a book?” said Posey.

Her animals were so happy! Even Wah smiled.

Posey got a book and sat on her bed. The animals snuggled around her.

Posey knew some of the words. She made the others up.

They all listened carefully until the very end.