Kayla crouches by the sandbox. She brushes away dry sand to reveal a tiny turtle.
She picks it up gently and shows it to her teacher. The teacher nods and smiles.
Kayla lowers the turtle into her empty lunch box and clicks the lid shut.
She can hear tiny scratchy sounds from inside as she walks to the bus.
Kayla climbs the front steps with her school bag bouncing against her hip. She unlocks her bedroom door and tiptoes inside.
Kayla takes the lunch box to her desk, sets it down, and pries the lid open.
The turtle peeks out with one shiny eye.
Kayla lays a soft cloth on the desk and places the turtle in the center. She whispers that she will take good care of it. The turtle tucks its head inside its shell.