Jamie had always been a quiet boy, but there was one thing that brought him real joy—his pet hamster, Chippy. It was small and brown with white patches, and Jamie loved it dearly. 

Every morning, before going to school, he would feed Chippy and check if the water bottle was full. At night, he sat by its cage, talking softly to it like it was his best friend. 

Chippy never talked back, of course, but to Jamie, Chippy always listened. It was the one little friend that didn’t argue, didn’t shout, and never made him feel alone.

To Jamie, Chippy was more than a pet. He was family.

Lena, on...