Tom’s Big Backpack

Tomorrow was a big day. Tomorrow, Tom was starting preschool, and to get ready, he had a brand-new backpack. A red backpack with a big pocket on the front, two nice padded straps, and a zipper that went zzzip.

There was only one problem: it was big. Really big. When Tom put it on, all you could see were his legs and the top of his head. “It’s too big,” said Tom. “You’ll grow,” said Dad. “That way, it’ll last you a long time.”

Tom looked inside the backpack. It was a big, empty hole. And a big, empty hole makes you want to fill it up.

So Tom got started. In went his twelve little cars, just in case there was a race. His dinosaur on wheels, just in case he got bored. His pillow, just in case he got sleepy. A banana, just in case he got hungry. His rain boots, just in case it rained. And his winter hat, just in case it snowed. In September.

Dad poked his head around the door. “Going on a trip?” “No,” said Tom. “I’m getting ready for school.” He tugged on the zipper with all his might. “But my backpack won’t close.”

Dad sat down on the floor next to him. He looked at the mountain of stuff. Then he looked at Tom. “Tell me something. What are you worried about for tomorrow?”

Tom fiddled with the zipper. Zip. Zip. “What if I don’t know anybody? What if I don’t know where to put my jacket? What if you forget to come get me?”

“I won’t forget,” said Dad. “I’ll be right by the blue door at the end of the day. Your teacher will show you where your jacket goes. And for the rest… what do you think would really help?”

Tom looked at all his things, one by one. And he started taking them back out: the banana, the pillow, the boots, the hat, the dinosaur, and all twelve cars. In the end, he kept just two things. Scout, his floppy-eared stuffed dog, for quiet time. And, in the front pocket, a little photo of the whole family, to look at if he needed it. Zzzip! The backpack closed.

The next morning, outside the school, the big red backpack bounced against the back of Tom’s legs. Dad gave him a big hug. “Right by the blue door, at the end of the day. Promise.” Tom nodded, held on tight to his straps, and walked in.

His teacher’s name was Ms. Lin. She had a soft voice and green glasses. She showed Tom a row of cubbies, and on one of them was a label with a little snail and his name. “This is your cubby, Tom. It’s yours for the whole year.”

Right next to him, a boy was trying to stuff his backpack into his cubby. It was green, and it was even bigger than Tom’s. A real giant’s backpack! The boy pushed, and shoved, and stood on his tiptoes… but the backpack flopped back out. The boy looked down at his shoes. He didn’t look like he wanted to talk.

Tom hesitated. He could feel his heart doing little hops. Then he stepped closer. “Mine’s too big too,” he said.

The boy looked up. He looked at Tom’s red backpack, then at his own green one, then back at the red one. And he laughed. “It’s like we’re carrying our houses on our backs.” “Like snails!” said Tom, pointing at the label on his cubby. Together, they tucked both backpacks into their cubbies, side by side. The boy’s name was Sami.

The day whirled by like a merry-go-round. There was painting, and circle time, and lunch, and quiet time with Scout. Out on the playground, Tom and Sami played snails: they moved very, very slowly, and whoever got there last was the winner. They both won.

At the blue door, there was Dad, exactly as promised. Tom ran to him, his backpack bouncing behind. “Dad! I have a friend. His name is Sami, and his backpack is even bigger than mine!” “And what about yours?” asked Dad. “Is it still too big?” Tom lifted one strap, as if he were weighing his backpack. “A little. But it’s great for playing snails.”

That night, Tom set his backpack by the front door, ready for the next day. Then he headed to bed the snail way: very, very slowly, with a blanket on his back for a shell and Scout under his arm. Dad raced him, very, very slowly too. Whoever got there last was the winner… and tonight, by a whisker, it was Tom. Tomorrow there would be Sami, the blue door, and two big backpacks, side by side.