It was a little blue, faceted button. Naomi thought it was a jewel, but Wendy showed her the little shank on the back, with a bit of blue string still haphazardly attached.

“Hey,” said Wendy, rolling the button in her four-year-old fingers, “this would fit in my nose.”

And to prove it, Wendy held the button to her nostril and said, “See?” But then she breathed in, and the button lodged. They tried to get it out, but Naomi’s mom called her to go home before long. Wendy caught her arm as she left the room.

“Don’t tell my mom.”