The Ant in the Photograph

The Ant in the Photograph

Tonight was Parents’ Night for Mr. Casey's third-grade classroom. Daron was excited. He felt like a balloon filled close to bursting. He rushed through his favorite dinner. He did his math homework as fast as he could. He begged his mom to please let him walk the dog after Parents’ Night. Finally, Daron and his mom arrived at school. " My project is right over there, " Daron said, pulling his mom across the classroom. They wove around rows of desks then stopped in front of the art table.

" Here it is! " Daron proudly pointed to a sculpture of a brightly painted, giant ant. " I recycled stuff that was being thrown away like milk cartons and bottle caps. Can you tell that the legs are old toilet paper tubes?" " You did a great job, " Daron's mom said. " It's as colorful as a circus clown. " " Thanks. It took me almost a whole week to make it, " Daron said. " Let's take a photograph of you with it, " his mom said as she pulled her camera out of its blue bag. Daron picked up his ant, held it high, and grinned for the photograph.

" Be careful with that, " his mom warned, placing the camera back in its bag. " I'm not ready to leave yet. " Daron put the ant down and followed his mom as she toured the room. Returning to his ant, Daron said happily, " I can't wait to show my ant to Dad when he gets home from his business trip. " He held his ant high and admired it. But in his excitement, Daron didn't notice a book on the floor. When he stepped on it, his feet flew out from under him as if he'd stepped on a banana peel. He and his ant crashed to the floor.

" Oh no, it's ruined! " Daron exclaimed when he saw pieces of his ant littering the floor. He picked up the flattened milk cartons, twisted straws, and ripped paper that had made up his ant. “ There's no way I can fix it, " he moaned, “ and Dad never saw it. " " I'm sorry, Daron, " his mom said, helping him pick up the last pieces of his ant. " I hope the photograph of it turns out, " said Daron. " Good thinking, " his mom replied. " Dad will like to see that. " She put the last of the ant sculpture pieces in the wastebasket. " Are you ready to go? We can stop at the house, pick up the dog, and go to Elm Creek Park to walk him if you want. " " I guess, " Daron said with a sad shrug.

The next afternoon, the school bell rang and kids piled out of the building. Daron followed the crowd toward the buses but stopped when he heard his name. " Hi, Mom, " he said when he spied her. “ What are you doing here? Did you get the photograph from last night?" " No, unfortunately, I can't find the camera, " she said. " But you're a mom, you never lose things, " Daron said.