The Mysterious Spiderman

Fridays are special. It's the only day that Aaron is allowed to bring a personal item to school because it's Show-and-Tell day.

To my horror, I find someone else's Spiderman Lego at the bottom of our washing machine on Tuesday. I knew it wasn't Aaron's because it was a genuine Lego (not one of his fake, made-in-China, wannabe spiderman legos).

Me: Aaron, is this your Lego?
Aaron: No.
Me: Where did it you get it from?
Aaron: Isabella. (classmate)
Me: Did Isabella give it to you?
Aaron: No.
Me: Did you ask her for it?
Aaron: No.
Me: Was it in her cubby when you took it?
Aaron: Yes.

We proceeded to explain what "stealing" was, why it was wrong and gave Aaron a time-out while he threw a fit. Afterward, we talked some more about how it feels to get things stolen and he promised not to do it again. When it came time to write an apology to Isabella, Aaron claimed that his best friend Linus gave it to him, so then I didn't know what to believe.

The next day, I left a note with the Lego for Aaron's teacher asking them to return it to the rightful owner. His teacher ended up returning it to a very grateful Linus. All I could think of what how much Aaron was abusing his friend -- first, a bloody nose and now theft. Yikes.

But by Thursday, Linus's dad returns the Spiderman Lego to school, explaining that it wasn't Linus's and that they're teaching him not to steal. Imagine his relief when he learned that wasn't the case. The teachers recalled seeing the Lego from Show-and-Tell, but couldn't remember whose it was. Neither could any of the kids. No one has stepped forward to claim it. Not even Isabella.

Aden's response to this whole mystery? "Finders keepers."