Squid Row

Harold had gone quiet. I leaned over and gave him a little nudge. “You okay?” I asked. He didn’t respond right away. He just looked out the window at the backyard lemon tree.

Finally he turned and said, “My job…  of being a Stufftie, just got more important. We Stuffties need to be there with even more hugs and more comfort… more than ever before.”

He faced the window again. “There’s so much to do.”

“I know,” I said. “There’s a lot of fear out there right now… a lot of anger and confusion.”

Harold reached out and gave me a heartfelt hug. “There,” he said, “It starts right now.”