Each of these things was silver in color and each would be a gift for Ms. Silver. Billy wanted one thing more, something better somehow, something important, to add to his collection. When he was sitting on the edge of his bed putting on his shoes, he found it. On his desk, beside his rubber band ball and his gold soccer trophies, were his three silver animals—a bear, a dog, and a rabbit. The animals had been Mama’s when she was a girl and they’d been on Billy’s desk for as long as he could remember. The rabbit will be perfect, he thought, recalling that Ms. Silver had noted in her letter that this was the Year of the Rabbit. He picked it up, turned the little thing in his hand. It was only an inch and a half high. Billy shoved the rabbit into his pocket with his other silver things. His plan was to leave the silver items on Ms. Silver’s desk. The gifts would be a way to show her that he was a nice person. He didn’t think he could find the words to explain to her what he’d been doing with the red markers.
