The three plastic keys, painted red, yellow, and blue, clacked together with a hollow, rhythmic rattle as he shook them in his small fist.

He babbled a string of soft, eager grunts, using his left hand to push himself up against my leg.

He held the plastic key ring straight up toward my hands, his fingers wrapped tight around the smooth blue loop.

“Are those for me?” I asked softly.

Noah let out a loud, bubbly chirp and pushed the toy ring closer, pressing the bright red plastic key right against my palm.

I took the ring from his fingers and balanced it in the palm of my right hand.