The Little Boy Who Hugged The Hulk

Colson was a little boy who loved the Hulk. He loved the way the green giant smashed things and the way he roared when he got angry. Colson thought that the Hulk was the coolest superhero around, but sometimes people didn't understand why he liked him so much. One day, Colson's teacher asked all the kids in his class to share their favorite superhero. When it was Colson's turn, he proudly declared, "the Hulk!" The other kids started to snicker and whisper to each other. "The Hulk is just a big, dumb, monster," one of them snickered. Colson felt his face turn red and his stomach drop. He looked around the room and no one else seemed to understand why he loved the Hulk so much. He felt like he was the only one who saw something special in the big green giant. After class, Colson walked home feeling glum. As he walked through the park, he saw a man sitting on a bench with a big sign that read "FREE HUGS." Colson knew his mom always told him not to talk to strangers, but something about this man made him feel safe. "Hey there, little buddy!" the man called out when he saw Colson approaching. "Do you need a hug?" Colson hesitated for a moment before finally giving in to the man's warm embrace. As the man hugged Colson, he whispered, "Always be yourself, even if others don't understand or approve." Suddenly, Colson felt a surge of confidence and strength. He realized that it didn't matter what his classmates thought about the Hulk. He loved the green giant, and that was all that mattered. The next day at school, Colson stood up boldly at show and tell. "I still love the Hulk," he declared. "And I'm not ashamed of it!" The other kids looked at him, surprised. But then something funny happened. One by one, the kids started to share their own secret loves. One girl loved unicorns, another boy loved space, and even Colson's teacher admitted that she loved to knit. As Colson walked home from school that day, he couldn't help but smile. He had learned that it was okay to be himself, even if others didn't understand or approve. The Hulk might not be everyone's cup of tea, but that didn't make Colson's love for him any less important. And as he walked, Colson couldn't help but imagine the Hulk's big green hand reaching out to give him a reassuring pat on the back.