Once in the backyard, Tammy told Johnny, "See these acorns? They grow on the trees and squirrels climb into the trees to pick them and bring them back to their squirrel families. That's because they are real squirrels. If they were toy squirrels, they wouldn't eat acorns at all. Got it?"



But Johnny didn't get it. He did not understand why his sisters were telling him these things. He replied, "Squirrels in the trees talk to me. They're not stuffed animals but they have homes and families, too. One of them is getting married, soon, and another couple is waiting for their new baby to be born." ===from the award winning story "A Boy and His Dragon" by Alexander Trovato.