The Giraffe in the Top Dryer

For parents & caregivers

Inside this story

Arlo loves sitting close to bottom-row dryer number three, counting his red sock with the hole that seems to wink. A small boy, Femi, arrives crying with his dad, and his yellow giraffe, Lolly, goes into a dryer on the top row. Arlo first tries his own favorite silly trick, but it isn't what Femi needs, and Femi hides his face. Arlo feels a little embarrassed. Then he listens and hears the real problem: Femi can't see Lolly because she is too high. Arlo knows that you can see into the top dryers from the back of the far bench, though his own sock will look tiny from there. He chooses to leave his favorite spot and asks Femi, without pushing, whether he wants to try. Femi decides for himself and asks his dad to come. Femi spots Lolly upside down and counts her turns as Arlo counts his sock, and his crying eases. When the dryers stop, Arlo's warm sock winks at Femi and earns a real giggle. Kindness appears as noticing and responding to what another person actually needs. Arlo keeps part of his own wish, no one is rewarded or praised, and there is no lecture or moral summary.