"What's in the box?"
"Nothin'."
Chris looked at Vin. It was their turn to tidy up the boys' room, while Buck and JD tackled the bathroom. A cursory check under the bunk beds for wayward socks and toys led to the discovery of an old shoe box. Well, an old boot box, to be precise.
The little boy was now standing at the other side of the room holding the box, clutching it like at any moment it would be ripped from his arms.
Chris was at a loss of what to do. Had Vin stolen something? Or maybe he had broken something? Was he afraid would be punished or something worse?
He chanced a quick glance at the box as he leaned down to smooth out the bedspread. From what he was able to see through the little boy's arms, he could make out scratchy writing done in crayon and what looked like dinosaur stickers.
Plumping up the pillow at the head of the bed, Chris tried to sound casually as he said, "You know, when I was little, I had a box like that. It was my special box."
He grinned as the death grip on the cardboard box lessened. "Really?"
"Absolutely. My dad said everybody needs a place to keep their special things."
"What was in your . . . special box?"
Chris straightened up. "Well, I think that's where I kept my favorite baseball cards. I didn't want my brother messing with them."
Vin stepped toward Chris. "Did it work?"
"Sometimes. I eventually found him a box of his own and that helped him to stay out of mine."
Vin stepped closer. "Do you think we could get JD a box? I mean, he might have something special he wants to keep safe."
Chris fought the urge to sigh. Safe. Despite all their efforts, Vin was still worrying about safety first. "Sure, Vin, we'll find something for him."
He was surprised when a small hand touched his arm. Vin had the box cradled in his other arm. "I call this my safe box. It keeps my stuff safe. But I like your name better. Can I call it my special box?"
"You can call it anything you want to. It's your box," Chris smiled assuredly.
Vin smiled widely, exposing the hole where one of his front teeth had been a few days before. He thrust the box towards Chris. "Wanna see what's in it?"
"I'd love to."