That morning, small footsteps padded into the kitchen while I was pouring coffee. Caleb stood there in his dinosaur pajamas, his hair sticking straight up as he blinked at the box on the counter.
I wasn’t sure I believed that.
« Is that it? » my son asked.
« That’s it, buddy. You want to see? »
He nodded fast.
I lifted the box.
For a second, he didn’t say anything, and my stomach twisted. I opened my mouth to apologize, to explain that next year I’d do better, and to say that I was sorry the basketballs looked funny.
Then he threw his arms around my waist and squeezed!
I lifted the box.
« It’s exactly what I wanted, Mom! »
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