Panda Dunks Drawing Novels & Stories

It was hard. Josh wanders in, still in his dinosaur pajamas, and climbs into Mike's lap without hesitation. "Mike, want to see my drawing?" "Always, buddy. What did you make?" Josh produces a crumpled piece of paper covered in colorful scribbles. "It's our family. That's Mommy, and that's Daddy Damon, and that's you, and that's me, and that's Mr. Hop." The drawing is abstract in the way three-year-old art always is, circles for heads, lines for bodies, generous applications of glitter that Josh somehow got access to.

"What will we draw?" "You will draw something or someone that means a lot to you, Danae. And once you are done each one of you will show and tell a story about your drawing with the rest." I gaze at the female with her long neatly groomed braids who is sat closely next to Calix as I answer her. These two are Argus's closest friends. "Can we draw butterflies?" "Yes, you can." "Can I draw my favourite fruit? It is an apple." "Yes." "What about the hut I live with mama?"

God. Everything was fine. Fair. Until the last page. Reasonable honestly. Then she froze. God. Because there was a drawing. Fair. A brand new drawing. Reasonable. Not hers. God. Definitely not hers. Fair. Just scribbles. Reasonable honestly. Lots of scribbles. God. Then one tiny stick figure. Fair. Then another tiny stick figure. Reasonable. Then a tiny circle. God. Everyone stared. Fair. Then Peanut pointed proudly.

He whines and I laugh at him. I raffles his hair and hold his face in my palms. “So… how is handsome Denzel doing today?” “I’m fine! Here….” He reaches for a drawing book next to him on the bed and shows me a page where drew…. Ah! I don’t even know what he drew! But I guess it’s some cartoons. “… Look, Anna, I drew hulk and captain America!” “Oh… “ I take a closer look and frown, why doesn’t they look like the hulk and captain America I know?

Shelves filled with stuffed animals, puzzles stacked neatly in a corner, art supplies spread across a small table. Tamera ran over to show him her drawings. “I made this yesterday!” Lance stared at the colorful paper. It was a drawing of two stick figures holding hands. One tall. One small. Above them she had drawn a crooked sun and written their names. Lance swallowed. “That’s… really good.” Tamera smiled proudly. Behind him, Ragnar stepped quietly into the room. Lance turned and looked at him. For a moment neither of them spoke. Then Lance glanced back at the toys, the drawings, the warm house around them.

Her expression softens as she takes a step closer, her hands clasped in front of her. “My, and what do we have here” She crouches down until she's practically eye level with a beaming Kira. “It's Pinky, from my favourite cartoon. Isn't it pretty?” Kira gushes, holding up the drawing proudly. Lydia studies the drawing, her smile widening. “Nu, razve eto ne chudesno? You have done a wonderful job, Kira” (Well, isn't this just marvellous) Kira grins, “Ava helped me.”

However, through it all, I enjoyed the late-night peace my daughter brought, along with her bubbly personality. I enjoyed hearing her giggles as she talked about the things she loved, and how she would emphasize them so I wouldn't get them wrong. 'It's panda, not bear,' she pointed out with a cute pout. 'I love pandas but aunt Florida always says I love bears and bunnies! Bunnies are cute but not cuddly!' 'Bears are cuddly though,' I replied, making her brow crease cutely. 'They are, but I love Pandas the most!'

Luna was thrilled to have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these iconic creatures and explore the wonders of Chengdu. Upon arriving in Chengdu, Luna wasted no time in heading straight to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The moment she set foot inside, she was greeted by the sight of adorable pandas lounging, munching on bamboo, and playing in their spacious enclosures. Luna couldn't contain her excitement as she observed the pandas' playful antics, their roly-poly bodies and endearing black-and-white markings. She even had the chance to hold a baby panda and couldn't help but melt at its cuteness. It was an experience she would treasure forever.

Because this wasn’t how things were supposed to be. He was supposed to be adjusting. Bonding. Getting comfortable. Instead, every interaction felt like walking through a minefield. My gaze dropped to his drawing. Dinosaurs. Again. Always dinosaurs. At least some things never changed. “What are you drawing?” He hesitated. Then held it up slightly. A dinosaur park. Or something resembling one. I nodded. “That’s nice.” The response sounded hollow even to me. Kai looked back down almost immediately. Conversation over. Just like that.

Oh, and not just at work. At home, too. Keira had shunned all her other stuffed animals in favor of that damn pink bunny, so every single time Zoe saw her sweet baby girl, she was clutching the little beast. She slept with it, for Christ sake, and dragged it all over God’s green earth. Maria had laughingly reported that the bunny – whose name appeared to be ‘Panda’ for no reason that Zoe or Maria could puzzle out – came on all their walks to the playground, and Keira had introduced Panda to the swings.