Toy Day

A line of teddy bear walked down the moss-covered path. They all wore feathers and masks. Some of them beat little drums as they walked. Their hats came in different colors. Anna Jane watched from the moss-covered ledge.

“Wow,” she whispered. “Look Teddy.” The girl held up the bear for a look.

“Think they’re friends?” she asked. The drumbeats filled the silence. Anna Jane walked down the path to follow the line.

-----------

The little parade walked through the whole forest. Keeping up proved to be a bit of a challenge. Anna Jane didn’t count on pushing through thick trees with a baby on her hip. The branches hit her in the face. Her feet sank down into the spongey moss. Anna Jane gritted her teeth. She tried to shield the baby as well. Amazingly, the child was still asleep. Anna Jane held her breath. At last, she held out her hand and touched something fuzzy.

“Huh?” she asked. The girl grabbed on tight. Leaves? Anna Jane pulled back the leaf wall. A bright light shot into her eyes.

“Gah!” she shouted. The baby squirmed at her side. Anna Jane took a step back. When she looked, the little bears disappeared behind an invisible wall. The drumming grew softer and softer. The final note disappeared behind the wall. Anna Jane turned back to the light in front of her. She drew in a deep breath.

Three,,, Two… One.

Anna Jane took off running towards the light.

---------

Where did all of these bright colors come from? The moss turned into a road of alphabet blocks. The buildings looked like doll houses. Could a sky be so blue? There came that drumming again. Anna Jane turned her head. Teddy bears walked down the road in formation. She waved them down.

“Hey!” she shouted. They didn’t look up. Probably couldn’t hear her. Anna Jane shrugged to herself. She started walking again. The baby at her side made her arm hurt.

“You there!” someone shouted behind her. Anna froze in her tracks. She turned her head. A giant Raggedy Ann doll stood inches away from her. She was dressed up like a nurse. Anna Jane pointed at her nose.

“Me?” she asked.

“Who are you?” the doll asked. Anna Jane completely turned around.

“Anna Jane,” she said. “And you?” The doll’s stitched mouth never moved. It stayed in that permanent smile.

“Who is he?” she asked. Her fingerless hand pointed at Teddy. Anna Jane looked to her left.

“Oh, this is Teddy,” she said. “Say hi, Teddy.” The teddy bear stood up. Anna Jane grasped.

“Teddy! You can move?” she asked. “But how?” Her stuffed companion didn’t speak. The doll pointed to the baby.

“What is that?” she asked. Anna Jane looked to her other side.

“Oh, this is a baby,” she said. “I just found it.” She had to slide the child up at her side.

“Who are you?” Anna Jane asked. The doll froze.

“Who am… I?” she asked.

“Yes,” the girl said. “Who are you?” The doll stood with her big button eyes.

“Who… am… I? Who… am… I?” she asked. Suddenly, sirens began to blare. Anna Jane jumped.

“Wha! Wha! What was that?!” she asked. Sirens ran through the air, louder and louder. Anna Jane froze. All of the toys stared at her. She began to sweat.

“Uh…” she said.

“Stop right there!” a voice shouted. Against her better judgement, Anna Jane lifted her head. A teddy bear dressed like a policeman walked through the crowd. The girl stared with big eyes. Teddy stood by her side, blocking the other bear. The teddy cop paused. He held up his badge.

“I’m with the Toy City Police. What seems to be the problem?” he asked.