Mia loved Carmen more than anything. Carmen was soft and warm, with kind eyes and a tail that wagged when she was happy. When Mia felt sad or scared, Carmen always made her feel better.
One afternoon, Mia came home from school feeling all wiggly inside. At recess, a new girl had tried to hold her hand, and Mia didn’t like it. She didn’t know how to say no, so she just pulled away and ran off. Now her tummy felt tight, and the new girl felt rejected.
Mia plopped down next to Carmen and gave her a big, tight hug. But this time, Carmen gently scooted back and looked at Mia with soft eyes.
“Huh?” Mia said. “Don’t you want a hug?”
Carmen sat still. She wasn’t upset—just calm. Mia noticed Carmen's paws stayed planted. Her tail gave a small, friendly wag, but she didn’t come closer.