WINNER

Don’t let anyone see him.
He should be hidden behind you when people walk in front of you.
When they are behind, Yak should be next to your stomach.
Hold him against your side as you walk past the secretary’s desk.
Past the Dean and past the lady with pretty hair
that answers the phone and gives you band-aids.

Don’t let your Yak get wet.
it’s barely drizzling outside, still enough to make him upset.
Tuck him under your sweater.
When you reach the tent on the other side of the parking lot,
take Yak out so he can see the grayish sky
and murky puddles on the sidewalk.

Remember step one.
Place Yak in your bag so he isn’t spotted.
Cover his ears so he doesn’t have to hear
the high-pitched ringing of your hand bells.
You can’t cover your own,
but at least Yak doesn’t have to go deaf.

Do not suffocate your Yak.
Put him in your bag again,
but leave an opening for his head and arms.
Leave him in the empty room when you go outside
to eat your brown rice and broccoli.
Make sure he doesn’t get too lonely.

Give your Yak a friend.
Crayons are a chatty option.

Demand they do not touch your Yak.
They will thrash him around the room
and put him in a dark cabinet
with construction paper and rotting glue sticks.
The white kind that’s too sticky and mushy,
but doesn’t come close to keeping science notes in your journal.

Be kind to your Yak.
He will come in handy when he sits at the front of the classroom,
surveying them with each beady eye.
They like him now.