The day Mommy became sad, Avery became sad. Avery’s days went from white to grey. As the darkness got worse, Avery realized that being miserable wasn’t that bad. In fact, he almost enjoyed it.

I hate you!

When Avery woke up, he decided that he would have a terrible, horrible, awful, very bad, no fun day. “I hate you!” he yells at Mommy as he storms out the door. Outside, there are big grey clouds floating overhead.

I have a gift for you!

He walks through his neighborhood. He shivers. It’s cold. Suddenly someone calls out to Avery, “I have a gift for you!” An old person gives Avery three big and bright sunflowers.

"What am I supposed to do with these?"

"That's for you to figure out."

“What am I supposed to do with these?” Avery asks.

The old person responds, “That’s for you to figure out,” then continues on his way.

The flowers give Avery a warm and fuzzy feeling. The fuzzy feeling makes him feel almost… happy. But today was supposed to be a bad day?

"Maybe if I throw them away I can continue being sad"

“Maybe if I throw them away I can continue being sad” he thinks. So he throws them in the bushes and keeps walking.

But the warm feeling didn’t go away. His toes and fingers tingle. Avery stops and thinks for a moment.

"Maybe if I give the flowers to other people, I will give the feeling to them as well"

Suddenly, he has an idea. “Maybe if I give the flowers to others, I will give the feeling to them as well.” Avery runs back to the bushes where he threw the flowers. He grabs them.

"Hi Squirrel, why are you crying?"

"I lost my favorite toy"

Farther up the path he meets a squirrel who is crying. “Hi Squirrel, why are you crying?” says Avery. “I lost my favorite toy,” responds Squirrel, sniffling.

"Do you want a pretty flower? It might make you feel less sad."

"Thank you, Avery!"

“Do you want a pretty flower? It might make you feel less sad.” Squirrel takes the flower and smiles. “Thank you, Avery!”

For the first time in a long time, Avery finds himself smiling. He is still sad, but the warmth is not quite as unpleasant as it was before.