Imagine the scene. Little kids playing in a circle. Toys get fought over, minute-long friendships are made. Giggles. Screams. Suddenly one clear voice pipes up, "Your ears are too big!!" Bright eyes look up, interested. Voices join in with taunts. The one kid, ears protruding from his head, sulks away from the group. "Now children, let's be nice to Link," teacher butts in, too late, as teachers tend to be.
Link slinks to the hangers and grabs a green hat, jams it over his ears. Teacher comes along, takes him by the hand and leads him back to the group. Blonde curls poke from under his hat. Teacher announces, "Boys and Girls! Link isn't like everyone else. Link is special."
Bright eyes stare. Blink. A whole circle of eyes staring at one boy.
"Link is an elf. There are some things different about Link. Can anyone see something different?"
"His ears!" Says the clear voice.
"Nuh uh! His ears are under the hat! He's hiding them!" "But they're there."
"Right," teacher agrees. "Anyone see anything else?"
A few silly guesses. Then teacher gives up the attempt at diversity and announces naptime.
Kids scramble for their pillows. One fellow dashes to the lights. A line forms at the bathroom. Some voices being water cries.
One boy stands alone. An ear has popped out of his hat, but he doesn't jam it back in. It hurts to bend them, actually. "Link," teacher says, "are you planning on joining us?"
He fixes on with sad eyes, looking younger than he is, and slowly mingles into the group.