I tucked the red rabbit into the front pocket, gently pressing its squashed left ear under the fabric flap so the metal zipper closed smoothly without snagging the fur.

Lucy put her yellow pencil down on the placemat and looked at her drawing.

“Are we going to Grandma’s house on Elm Street this weekend?” she asked.

“No,” I said.

“We’re staying right here at home.”

She nodded once, picked up a green colored pencil, and returned to her drawing without saying another word.

I zipped the main compartment closed and set her backpack next to her winter boots by the back door.

Then I crossed the linoleum to the kitchen counter where I had left the results of my morning’s work.