A Special Box for Daddy

Everybody said Mateo was a happy boy. When he and his daddy pitched a tent out in the backyard, Mateo hid and waited for his daddy to find him.

Then, when his daddy found him, Mateo giggled and said, “Daddy you found me! You found me!”

“Son, I will always find you, no matter where you are!” his daddy would say.

But, no matter how happy Mateo appeared to be, he sat at the edge of his bed and cried every night. He thought about all the fun things that he and his daddy used to do. Days passed and Mateo walked around with his shoulders drooped, and his head hung low. His daddy had left home. He had gone to the mi1itary

One day while Mateo was at school, he decided to play all the games he and his daddy used to play.

During story time, Miss Benatar, his kindergarten teacher was about to read to the class when Mateo crawled under the table. Miss Benatar called out, “Mateo, it is story time! It is not time to hide.”  Mateo chanted, “You can’t find me! You can’t find me!”

During art time, Miss Benatar told the class, “Today we are going to make a special box. You can decorate it any way you want.” She kneeled over by Mateo and whispered, “Now, you can make a special box for your daddy.”

“A special box? For my daddy? My daddy is far away! What good is an old empty box anyhow?” questioned Mateo.

“It’s for treasures!” said Miss Benatar. “You can save the special box for your daddy. When he comes home to visit, you can give him a box full of treasures!” Mateo’s eyes opened wide. “Treasures? What kind of treasures?” he curiously asked.