"It's not what it looks like," she said.

The girl’s parents stared in horror at what had, the night before, been a festive and lovingly arranged assortment of gifts under the tree.

"But...but why?" Father reached down and examined a piece of shattered dollhouse while Mother wept.

"My teacher said some kids don't get any toys at Christmas." She swung the hammer like a baton as she spoke. "I thought you'd be proud—why're you sad?"

"'Cause we could've given them away, dummy!" cried Brother from the stairs.

"No." Father shook his head. “We hid a kitten in the dollhouse."