Leo tugged a long strand of hair around his finger. Down on the sidewalk, three kids jogged past — one with a bright blue mohawk, another with golden braids, a third with shaved sides and a wild tuft on top. Leo pressed his palm flat against the glass.
The hair fell loose and tickled his nose. He dropped his hand and stared at the kitchen table, where a wooden tray waited. He thought: I wish I could do something like that too.
His mom slid the tray across the table — combs, elastic bands in every color, and the tiny silver dragon clip. She sectioned his hair with her fingers and began to braid.
The first braid came undone with a soft *ping*. It tumbled into Leo's eyes and he batted it away, giggling. His mom shook her head and started again.
The second attempt turned his head into a bouncy topknot that wobbled every time he nodded. The third looked like a bird's nest — fluffy and soft, with three bobby pins sticking up like feathers.
Leo leaned into the hallway mirror and turned his head side to side. The dragon clip caught the afternoon light and flashed gold across the wall. He went very still.
Mom fastened the silver dragon at the crown of his head. Half his hair swept back, the rest cascaded over one shoulder like a dark waterfall. He touched the clip gently, then his hair, then the clip again.
A wide grin spread across his face. He whirled around and ran toward the living room. I have to show her, he thought. I have to show her NOW.
Leo marched downstairs and stood on the rug so his mom could see him from every angle. He patted the dragon clip proudly and announced this was his new look.
Mom clapped once, softly, and Leo strutted to the door, hands on his hips, hair swinging behind him. He opened the front door and stepped into the afternoon light.
The three kids from this morning were gone, but Leo didn't mind. He stood on the porch and let the sun warm his face. His hair smelled like lavender.
He looked down at the sidewalk and imagined walking past it with his head held high. The dragon clip caught the light one more time — a tiny flash of gold, just for him.