"It's almost Valentine's Day," said Mrs. Connor.
"Today we will make cards."
All the children at Robin Hill School loved Valentines's Day.
All the children except Neil.
"Valentines are frilly! Valentines are pink!" he said.
"I get too many valentines. I do not want any more."
"Are you sure?" asked Mrs. Connor.
"Yes, I am sure," said Neil.
"Very, very sure."
And that was that.
On Valentine's Day, Katie gave Emma a frilly valentine.
James gave Hannah a pink valentine.
But nobody gave a valentine to Neil.
Mrs. Connor asked him, "Is it all right that you did not get any valentines?"
"Yes," said Neil. "It is great."
But inside, Neil did not feel great at all.
On the playground all the children looked at their valentines.
Neil looked at the swings.
In the halls all the children read their valentines.
Neil read a book.
On the school bus all the children talked about their valentines.
Neil talked about his soccer team.
But nobody listened.
When Neil got home his sister said, "Neil, this card came for you."
Neil opened the envelope.
Inside was a valentine.
It was not frilly.
It was not pink.
Every first grader in Neil's class signed the card.
The next day Mrs. Connor asked, "Did you get too many valentines, Neil?"
"No," said Neil.
"I did not get too many valentines. I got just one valentine. And I feel great."
This time, he did.