The feeling that this wouldn’t be so bad lasted about twenty minutes. As Lucas tried to play with his older cousins, Derek’s boys Jason and Tyler, they immediately targeted him. “Why do you still have a stuffed animal?” Jason said loudly. “That’s for babies.”

“Mr. Bamboo is my friend,” Lucas replied, his voice small.

Tyler snickered. “Babies talk to toys. Are you a baby?”

I started to move toward them, but Derek intercepted me, a hand firmly on my shoulder. “Let the boys work it out, Virge. That’s how they learn to stand up for themselves.”

“He’s six, Derek. They’re older and bigger.”

“Exactly why he needs to toughen up. You’re not doing him any favors babying him.”