by Ali Valdez

Created on: June 04, 2009

Teddy: One Bear's Journey

When I was born, or created, or assembled, whatever you humans say, I was born with one longing: Human love and compassion. All toys are born with it, it's not a learned trait, it's entirely innate. I opened my eyes, and the first thing is saw was the Toy Maker, his kind blue eyes watching over me.

"There, there little one," he said softly. "You can meet your new friends."

He picked me up with his soft hands and set me in a display with two other teddy bears. They looked at me with their glass black eyes.

"Hello young one," an old gray one greeted me.

"Hi!"

A brown one rolled over. "I want my master," he cried.

The gray one ignored him. "He was sold to the Toy Man from his master."

I looked at him with sadness. Tears rolled down the bear's eyes. He curled up in a fetal position, and he sobbed loudly. The Toy Maker ran up to the display we were sitting in. He cradled him in his arms.

"There, there young one," he soothed. "Someone will pick you up."

The brown bear sobbed louder. The Toy Maker took the crying bear in the back. The gray one sighed, but started snoring loudly. He had fallen asleep. I looked at hius back. There were many rips and tears, as if he had gone through a lot of suffering. He was very kind. I looked out the display window. Hundreds of families walked past us, pointing at me with big, toothy grins. I wanted them all to pick me up and hug me. I guess it was part of my programming. I watched one girl and her mother walk into the toy store.

"I want old Ben!" she yelled. Just then, the Toy Maker walked in the room.

"Hello Anna," he said. "Here to buy Ben?"

Her mother sighed. "She convinced me!" she laughed, holding her hands up. "We're buying old Ben!"

Anna rushed to our display window and picked up the old gray bear, Ben. He awoke instantly. "Anna!" he yelled, smiling.

Anna hugged him. "Ben," she whispered. "You're mine now."

I felt of pang of sadness. I wanted an owner, a little child to hug me. Anna left the store, and Ben waved at me. Another little girl ran into the store. "Can I have him?" she asked, pointing at me. I felt hope rush through my for the first time. I could have an owner. Love. Her father pulled out money from his pocket.

"Fine," he sighed. "Toy Maker?" he asked. The Toy Maker picked me up.

"Here," he said, handing me to the little girl.

The brown-haired girl picked me up. "I'll name you Teddy," she whispered. And then I felt it: Love. Pouring through my stuffed body, nearly making me explode. Once you've been named, you are bound to your owner forever. I understood why the brown bear was heartbroken. Your owner leaveing you....forever....it was an unbearable thought. I hugged the girl back.

"Your name?" I asked her.

Her eyes widened. "Sally."

And we walked out of the store, hugging each other. And when she was old and gray, I would still be with her, for a teddy bear is bound to the master forever.

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