One sunny morning, Lily spread a little blanket on the grass.
“It’s a picnic for my toys!” she said.
She sat her teddy bear in one corner. A little toy horse went in another. In the middle, she placed an empty pink bucket.
“That’s where our pretend sandwiches go,” Lily explained.
Dolly settled beside the blanket. Happy stood nearby, his long ears hanging softly.
Lily looked at her teddy. She looked at her toy horse. She looked at the bucket.
Then she looked at Happy.
“Oh,” she said. “I forgot to make a spot for you.”
A little room, a big welcome.
Lily moved the teddy closer to the toy horse. She scooted the bucket toward the edge. Then she patted the grass beside her.
“Right here, Happy.”
Happy lay down with a happy sigh. Dolly stretched out nearby.
Dad came over and sat on the grass.
“That looks like a lovely picnic,” he said.
“We have pretend sandwiches,” said Lily. “And real friends.”
Dad smiled. “A very good kind of picnic.”
Lily looked around. Everyone had a place.
There wasn’t any more blanket than before. But somehow, there was room for everyone.
And that was the best part.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
How did Lily help Happy feel welcome?
What could you do if someone wanted to join your game?