Lenora puts her hands on her hips. “My chicken coop. So what?”
“So look inside the shed.”
She gives me a curious look but pushes at the wire gate and shoos the chickens away. I follow as Lenora walks to the shed and opens the small wood door. Inside, resting on straw, is a six-inch white chicken. Not a baby chick. A full-grown mini chicken.
Lenora drops the wooden box at her feet and gasps. “Is that—”
“Bobbie. Kind of.”
Lenora draws in an excited breath and pulls the small chicken out, cuddling it in her palm. “It’s mini Bobbie! How—”
“I saw the picture of her in your bedroom. I drew her the best I could. I know I broke our code, and I know it’s not exactly Bobbie, but—”
“It’s really close.” She lifts him up to inspect. “Even prettier.” There’s a tear in her eye.
“He’ll probably grow, like Tiny T did. Just in time for the County Fair. Just… keep her away from Grannie.”
Lenora laughs and nuzzles her nose into the feathers on mini Bobbie’s back.
I look at the ground and kick at the dirt. “I couldn’t give you your mom, so…”
“So you made me a zombie chicken.” She starts to cry, real tears streaming tracks through the dust on her face.
I tense. “You don’t like it?”
Lenora shakes her head, then throws an arm around me, careful not to squish mini Bobbie, and buries her head in my neck. It gets wet from her tears.
“I love her. And you’re right. I should keep this.” She taps her foot on the box. “And I was right. You are so not boring.” She pulls back as mini Bobbie squirms in her palm, and she giggles. “But, man, oh, man, are you trouble!”
I exhale, relieved I didn’t mess up. Because yeah—sometimes Brain is off at a luau when I need him, and yeah, sometimes I do stuff I don’t mean to. But that’s not all I am. I’m all sorts of other cool things too: curious, adventurous, creative… and a good friend.
So I’m trouble all right.
But maybe just trouble with a tiny t.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
When I was ten years old, I wrote a fan letter to an author, Carolyn Sheehan, and she wrote back, becoming my lifelong pen pal. She’s passed from this world now, but for me, her letters were the stuff of magic from the Other Realm. She inspired my dream of being a writer and changed my life. (In fact, it was on a plane trip to visit her that I met my husband!)
Since then, a lot of friends have helped me figure out the magic of writing this book. My kids’ amazing teacher, Jessica Whitehouse, and her son, Felix; Miles and Aiden Squiers, Milo Gillies, Jesse Mosher, and especially Ismael Kusumaatmadja; the best math teacher, Mr. Widelock, for the fun misuse of his name; my incredible, giving, and detailed critique partners, Dean Gloster and Sally Pla—thank you all.
For their enduring and unwavering friendship, critiques, and all things writing, I love my YAMS and Story Sisters, especially Shells Legoullon, Lisa Schulman, Nikki Garcia, and Jennifer Alvarez. Also Darcy Rosenblatt, Amanda Conran, Jennifer Gennari, and the gang at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
Thank you to The Book Passage, my local indie store, for existing and for your incredible support for writers. It was in Andrea Alban’s writer’s workshop that I wrote the first chapter.
For my English teachers, Bruce Schauble and George Farrell, your early faith in me was instrumental. Thank you Randi Barshack—now go finish your book!
To my muse, best friend, and partner-in-crime, Linda Stutz—girlfriend, thank you and I love you. For the late Bill Turnage, who made me a better writer and was my greatest champion—man, I miss you.
I could not have conjured up a better literary agent than the amazing Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Thank you for loving and championing Westin as much as I do and for making me take out the Norwegian elves—you are an ever-shining star, as is your assistant, Alison Nolan. To the team at Capstone: Michelle Bisson, Hilary Wacholz, and especially my patient and keen-eyed editor, Alison Deering. I am grateful for your vision and efforts on behalf of this book.
Although we’ve never met, a special thanks to my heroes, Russell Barkley, David Nowell, and Stephen Hinshaw, whose research and writings on ADHD helped inform me as a clinician. And you too, Holly Seerley.
Thanks to the folks at ADDitude for letting me blog. ADHD is a very real, very painful, and quite-misunderstood diagnosis. It is my sincere hope that through Westin’s lighthearted adventures, readers will recognize themselves and feel seen—or recognize another and finally understand.
To my family—the squirrely, loud, loving, and funny lot of you. Mom, you’re my wings. J, you’re basically the hot air underneath. Jim, you too. Dad, I miss you and wish you could see your little girl in print.
To my kids, you are my magic. Sabrina—your amazing crayon mermaid on the wall and adventures in sheet-cutting were the seeds of Westin’s story. You’re my favorite. Maclean—aka, Superfast Punching Man—no, this book is not about you, and you’re also my favorite. Tabitha—you were Westin’s first real friend. Thank you for letting me read this to you chapter by chapter and telling me where it was boring. You are my favorite.
Bobbie the chicken, by Sabrina Saunders
And finally, to my loving and patient husband, who indulges my passion for writing, cheerleads me endlessly, and is always ready to rub my weary shoulders—I love you like the wind.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Merriam Sarcia Saunders, LMFT, is a family therapist and author of the picture books My Whirling, Twirling Motor and My Wandering, Dreaming Mind, both affirming stories about children with ADHD. Merriam and her husband live in Northern California with their three kids, one silly lab, and a tiny chihuahua with no teeth. This is her first novel. To learn more about Merriam, visit merriamsbooks.com.
Trouble with a Tiny t is published by Capstone Editions, an imprint of Capstone.
1710 Roe Crest Drive
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
www.capstonepub.com
Text copyright © 2021 by Merriam Sarcia Saunders.
Illustrations copyright © 2021 by Capstone.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on the Library of Congress website.
ISBN: 978-1-68446-281-0 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1-68446-351-0 (eBook PDF)
ISBN: 978-1-68446-350-3 (eBook)
Summary: Westin Hopper gets in trouble—a lot. At home, at school, at his grandparents’ house… his ADHD brain always seems to make him to do impulsive things. So when Westin finds a magic bag that makes his thoughts come alive, he thinks it’s the ticket to fixing his life. Instead, his wandering brain strikes again, conjuring up a mini T. rex, an army of headless plastic men, and a six-inch Thor. Now they all live in his bedroom, eating lunchmeat, wreaking havoc, and growing, and Westin doesn’t know how to make them go away. But he’d better figure it out quickly. Tiny T is growing—and fast.
Image Credits: author photo by Tabitha Saunders; Bobbie the Chicken by Sabrina Saunders
Designed by Hilary Wacholz
Cover illustration by Frances Castle
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