Adventures at Rasa Ranch #83

[Guest guest]

11/27/02 "Trust"

 

A couple of years ago we were in a mom 'n pop store and the lady

behind the counter told our little girl that she could choose any

stuffed bear in the whole place and take it home with her. Without

hesitating, Ananda excitedly headed directly for the brightest one,

and I mean bright. It could blind you. It was red. It looked a bit

weathered, but hey, it was red. We all got a kick out of the whole

thing.

 

As soon as we were in the truck I sniffed and said, "What IS that?"

Something reeked! It was that bear. We rolled down the windows and

decided to put it straight into the washing machine as soon as we got

home. The only problem was, when we looked a little closer it seemed

obvious that the red bear would not survive it. In fact, it had a

couple of tears in the seams and was dropping Styrofoam pellets all

over the place; hence, the name: Popcorn Bear.

 

As soon as we could get away with it, Jim and I had hidden Popcorn

Bear in the garage where we'd all forgotten about him. He stayed

there for probably half a year. Then, by accident, Ananda found him,

and with all the zest of a reunion with a long lost and forgotten

lover, she squealed and shrieked and hugged him, pellets dropping

here and there...and of course she carried him back into the house.

 

Time went by and Popcorn Bear was bear-napped once again and this time

stashed inside of a big, black plastic bag along with other such

items. He and the slightly open bag had been forgotten again for

months, but alas, they were rediscovered by our curious child looking

for treasures, and once again, the bear took up residence in her

bedroom. By now, at least, the moldy stench was almost gone.

 

So, Jim takes Ananda to town for the day, the baby is sleeping, and I

decide to straighten up her room a little. I see that red, smelly,

leaking, old bear, pick it up with the tips of two fingers and I am

approaching the threshold and about to exit her room with it (all the

while making immediate plans for its permanent disappearance), when

suddenly I stop. I hold my breath. I let it out. Then I turn

around and put it back.

 

Do you know what the thought was that stopped me in my tracks? "I

can't do this....she TOTALLY trusts me!!"

 

 

(picture attached - Popcorn Bear and Friends)

 

 

 

 

 

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