’WPCp ™iĄC¢ļjŗšÕ¼#K2Cņ /ŪE,łŃÉ}Ž8jĪä®ķę=žž9],øĢīJLµ”#znņr…ŅŹŗõ·YaLņó˜SGé lŹų›“_«•HNHś s/ӛ§oŚ/†‚#3Žˆ*#ĘÓĄE „!)†5t š]’mœCņ¤6į-š‚ƒāR ō«ģī!Ķż]ńy»CīÖÜ~ž‰ąĮTČZ”ÕŪ11„ė1™N±ufmšGvdļ©÷įd$¶:Äõ-h7)~Jn?Ķmcxß×Ųæõž¦sįÅ/ <Ń oGø€n` iUtcd‰cĶ4'÷8ŁsĻ[lŃfm‘+§­ą“ŚMŽVµZnÅšż‡ŖČ.śÖ¦žųY_Ē·øõŽd8žȞšę¹–±Č#7X‘Š mNZąķŠŗe›5E@|7o™@u`kв~œM2E!WA>“<Ą,¶65}G§I:‰3xP Żdž5ųnäYĻö*s’Ż’~®Ÿ,ČT£R “ϾBņ¼¦ć.eüéNsAŁ«%Dė0ęė ^ś©®,×øĮ‰ē“Ń2 [2Œš­¾r©l÷ž"7†\©‡QϜ&NDß!ģ•!cW°aü!¹» # ~UN‰ %× 0(Żw@4EYh˜HP OfficeJetHPDSKJETȰ,,,,Ȱ0L¦Ī(ÖĆ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($”” łśūü{żž’«\+3|xŻ ƒ!ŻŻ  Ż›€€€€€If€you€liked€š šToy€Story,šš€youššll€love€this€look€at€a€day€„€including€one€episode€„€in€the€life€ofĻStephanieššs€best€friend,€which€looks€back€at€how€he€arrived€and€at€his€most€challenging€time,Ļhelping€Stephanie€handle€her€motherššs€death.€€Youššll€œnotice€heššs€gotń’ń€someń’ńń’ń€a€good€dealń’ń€of€her€personality.€ĻAnd,€youššll€never›€look€at€stuffed€animals€the€same€way€œagain.€:„)›ĢĢBEAR€STORYĢĢ€€€€€The€stuffed€bear€dared€to€blink€once.€€Out€of€the€corner€of€his€eye,€he€could€tell€the€little€girlĻwas€asleep.€€He€paused,€unsure€of€whether€or€not€to€get€out€of€her€grip.€€It€was€so€much€easier€forĻthe€toys.€€They€could€wander€around€much€more€easily.Ģ€€€€€š šUnnhh.€€Ergh.€€Okay,€come€on,€I€need€my€other€foot,šš€whispered€Pillow€Person€as€he€crawledĻout€from€under€Stephanieššs€mattress.€€A€leg€was€caught€under€it€still,€and€he€tumbled€backwardsĻseveral€times€when€he€finally€pulled€it€out.€€š šPhew,€œStephanieššs›€getting€heavy€for€a€seven€yearĻold.šš€€He€looked€up€at€Mr.€Bear.€€š šYou€cominšš€out?ššĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€squirmed€out€and€adjusted€his€hat.€€The€dark€brown€bear€wore€a€spiffy€detectiveššsĻoutfit,€and€spoke€in€a€light€British€accent.€€It€was€cordial,€sensitive,€yet€with€an€air€of€authorityĻthat€reminded€Pillow€Person€a€little€of€Star€Trekššs€Captain€Picard.€€š šHmmm,€œIńłń€suppose€Ińłń›€might€spare€a€fewĻminutes.€€Itššs€tougher,€of€course,€with€they€sleep€with€you.ššĢ€€€€€š šHey,€you€donššt€have€to€tell€me€about€that.€€D.J.€used€to€sleep€with€me€all€the€time€when€sheĻwas€little.€€Stephanie€got€you€when€Michelle€was€born€less€than€three€years€ago.šš€€The€pillowššsĻeyes€twirled,€and€he€flailed€his€arms.Ģ€€€€€œš šńūńTell€me€something€ńūńńüńńūńIńūńńüńńüńIńüńńūń€ńūńńżńdonššt€knowńżńńūńIššmńūńńśń€wellńśńńūń›€aware€of€thatńūń,€Number€One,šš€Mr.€Bear€remarked€wryly.Ģ€€€€€Pillow€Person€harumphed.€€He€was€much€more€direct€that€the€whimsical€Mr.€Bear,€andĻsounded€a€little€like€Woody€on€Toy€Story,€but€not€totally.€€š šMust€you€call€me€that?€€Just€becauseĻmy€initials€happen€to€be€P.P.,šš€he€groused,€but€with€a€grin.€€š šAh,€well,€it€figures.€€It€sounds€likeĻone€of€Stephanieššs€jokes.€€I€donššt€know€whether€she€rubs€off€on€you€or€you€rub€off€on€her.ššĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€shrugged.€€š šSheššs€got€an€imagination.€€Maybe€not€quite€like€Calvinššs,€but€still,€thereĻare€qualities€of€her€that€Iššveńžń€ńžńńžń...ńžńgained€over€the€years.€€You€know,€D.J.ššs€just€about€given€up€lookingĻfor€you.€€Care€to€be€one€of€the€toys€going€to€charity€tomorrow?ššĢ€€€€€Pillow€Person€rolled€his€eyes.€€š šEvery€toy€gets€lost€for€a€while.€€Sheššll€find€me€soon€enough.ššĢ€€€€€š šWell,€spring€cleaning€will€be€the€time.€€If€not,€I€suggest€you€plan€to€stay€in€Michelleššs€roomĻfor€a€few€years.šš€€He€turned€to€several€rhinos.€€He€considered€himself€lucky€„€how€many€housesĻhad€stuffed€rhinos€with€whom€he€could€pal€around?€€Especially€where€the€little€girls€didnššt€thinkĻthey€were€unicorns?€€But€his€owner,€Stephanie€Tanner,€was€one€smart,€witty,€adorable€little€girl.€ĻAnd,€she€knew€her€animals.Ģ€€€€€The€pillow€waved€an€arm.€€š šCome€on,€letššs€not€argue€about€that€now.€€Weššve€got€work€toĻdo.šš€€He€called€all€the€animals€to€attention.€€Numerous€toys€also€stood€up€and€took€notice.Ģ€€€€€š šFace€it,€Pillow,€youššre€the€toy€of€a€girl€whoššll€be€a€teen€in€a€year,šš€Mr.€Bear€analyzedĻthoughtfully.€€š šAnd€according€to€Peter€Pan,€sheššs€already€at€the€age€when€sheššd€move€out€of€theĻnursery€and€be€considered€grown€up.€€Sheššd€stop€playing€with€us.šš€€He€grinned.€€He€could€neverĻimagine€Stephanie€not€playing€with€him.€€He€knew€D.J.€had€never€had€as€close€an€attachment€toĻthat€pillow.€€š šIn€fact,šš€he€added,€š šD.J.ššs€never€referred€to€you€as€ššfriend.šš€€At€one€point,€sheĻpreferred€an€invisible€duck€named€Nortonńń€to€youńń.€€Now€that€really€quacks€me€up.ššĢ€€€€€Pillow€gazed€at€Mr.€Bear€with€a€look€of€amusement.€€Mr.€Bear€had€quickly€risen€in€the€ranksĻof€stuffed€animals€there€for€one€reason.€€After€Pam€Tanner€„€the€mother€of€Stephanie,€D.J.,€andŠ @-(, Šthe€toddler€Michelle€„€died€just€about€two€year€ago,€he€and€Stephanie€cried€together€all€the€time.€ĻOf€course,€an€outsider€couldnššt€tell,€but€to€a€child,€there€was€something€special€about€a€stuffedĻanimal.€€If€D.J.€were€bugging€her,€or€if€Stephanie€just€needed€to€talk,€heššd€be€there.€€And,€unlikeĻmany€toys,€children€could€tell€when€a€stuffed€animal€had€a€sort€of€life€to€it.Ģ€€€€€D.J.€had€had›€her€best€friend,€Kimmy€Gibbler.€€So,€she€hadnššt€need€Pillow€Person€quite€asĻmuch.€€Still,€heššd€been€there,€too,€for€her.€€And,€Pillow€Person€tried€to€defend€his€ownerššs€smallĻattempts€to€maintain€that€little€girl€attitude€while€getting€older.€€š šYou€and€your€pointlessĻramblings.€€Youššve€been€good€for€Stephanie.€€But€I€am€a€sophisticated€toy;€D.J.€says€so€herself.€ĻSheššs€growing€into€a€fine€young€woman.€€And€Iššm€proud€to€say€that€she€used€to€drool€on€meĻwhen€she€was€little.ššĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€gave€a€whimsical€grin.€€He€knew€D.J.€wouldnššt€part€with€Pillow€Person.€€Besides,Ļwith€Michelle€in€the€house,€he€could€always€get€handed€down.€€So€could€any€of€the€other€stuffedĻanimals€during€tomorrowššs€spring€cleaning.€€In€fact,€he€hoped€one€in€particular€would€stay.Ģ€€€€€One€of€Stephanieššs€stuffed€bunnies€looked€up€from€a€calculator.€€š šHey,€are€we€gonna€start€theĻmeeting?€€ššCause€if€not,€weššve€got€some€multiplying€to€do.ššĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€cleared€his€throat,€and€brought€the€meeting€to€order,€standing€on€a€chair€at€the€littleĻtable€Stephanie€and€D.J.€shared.€€First,€he€checked€to€ensure€Stephanie€was€still€sleeping.€€ItĻwould€really€be€a€mad€scramble€if€she€awakened€now.€€š šAll€right,€now€as€we€all€know,€tomorrowĻis€spring€cleaning€day.€€Which€means€itššs€also€the€day€when€some€of€you€will€be€going€to€helpĻmore€needy€boys€and€girls.ššĢ€€€€€š šItššd€be€a€shame€to€leave€this€place,šš€Rollie€the€Rhino€uttered€in€a€deep€voice.Ģ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€grinned.€€š šWell,€Stephanieššs€told€me€about€a€few€of€you€who€I€know€made€the€cut.€ĻHowever,€Iššd€advise€you€all€to€remember€that€this€isnššt€about€you,€itššs€about€helping€other€kids.šš€ĻHe€paused.€€He€thought€he€heard€footsteps€in€the€hall.€€Pillow€Person€creeked€open€the€door€andĻpeeked€out€with€the€corner€of€his...well,€his€head.€€Michelle€was€attempting€to€go€potty;€sheššdĻcalled€for€her€dad€to€get€her.€€š šEverything€okay?ššĢ€€€€€š šYeah.€€If€Michelle€spots€us,€sheššs€young€enough€we€can€make€her€think€itššs€a€dream,šš€PillowĻPerson€said€confidently.€€He€had€experience€that€Mr.€Bear€didnššt€with€toddlers.Ģ€€€€€š šYouššre€good€at€that€sort€of€thing,€I€imagine,€being€around€D.J.€when€she€was€little.šš€€TurningĻback€to€the€crowd,€he€added€that,€š šThe€key€to€this€is€sometimes€just€how€a€child€thinks€of€you.€ĻItššs€very€rare€that€you€become€a€real€friend,€not€just€a€toy.€€Donššt€think€of€being€given€away€as€theĻend€of€your€career.€€It€could€be€a€great€beginning.ššĢ€€€€€As€he€rambled€on,€and€then€answered€questions,€Mr.€Bear€considered€that€even€before€PamššsĻaccident,€Stephanie€had€enjoyed€him.€€But,€sheššd€had€other€animal€friends,€too.€€In€fact,€even€aĻfew€months€after€her€dadššs€best€friend€Joey€and€her€Uncle€Jesse€moved€in€to€help€raise€the€girls,Ļsheššd€been€carrying€a€stuffed€dog€with€a€yellow€ribbon€named€Alphabet€„€whom€she€called€Alphie.Ģ€€€€€He€turned€to€Alphie€as€he€finished.€€Asking€to€speak€to€him€privately,€he€told€him€š šAlphie,ĻStephanieššs€sort€of€forgotten€about€you.ššĢ€€€€€š šI€know.€€But,€it€could€just€be€my€time€to€move€on,šš€the€dog€said€with€a€shrug.Ģ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€smiled.€€He€like€this€dogššs€attitude.€€It€was€a€humble,€unassuming€voice.€€The€duty€ofĻan€animal,€as€with€a€toy,€was€to€facilitate€enjoyment€in€children.€€Stephanie€œhad€had›€him€since€sheĻturned€five.€€And,€Alphie€knew€it€might€just€be€time€for€a€change.Ģ€€€€€Still,€Alphie€had€been€important€in€helping€Stephanie€after€her€momššs€death.€€š šLook,€I€knowĻthe€toys€really€donššt€get€a€chance.€€But€the€way€Stephanie€is€with€me,€I€might€be€able€to€mutterĻsomething,€and€remind€her€to€keep€you€here...if€you€want€to€stay.ššŠ @-(, Š€€€€€š šMr.€Bear,€youššre€her€best€friend.€€Better€than€Harry,€better€than€Allie,€better€than€anyone.šš€ĻHe€scratched€behind€an€ear.€€š šIššve€seen€the€way€you€work.€€You€may€not€have€a€Hundred€AcreĻWoods,€but€in€some€ways€youššre€better€than€Winnie€the€Pooh.€€And,€Iššd€be€proud€to€go€to€someĻother€young€kid€whoššs€hurting,€and€say€to€myself€ššI€served€under€the€Master.ššššĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€blushed€„€as€much€as€that€was€possible€for€a€stuffed€animal.€€œš šWell,ńń€I€donššt€knowĻabout€that.€€But,ńń›€Iššd€hate€to€seeĻyou€go.€€I€relied€more€on€you€than€you€could€realize€after€their€Mom€died.ššĢ€€€€€Alphie€raised€his€eyebrows€as€the€others€went€back€to€their€places.€€š šReally?ššĢ€€€€€š šDogs€are€naturally€loyal€and€understanding.€€Bears€can€be.€€But,€look€at€my€outfit.€€Iššm€aĻmystery„solving€bear.€€I€could€just€as€easily€have€been€Sherlock€Holmes€to€some€childššs€Watson.€ĻInstead...šš€€He€smiled€wistfully.€€š šInstead€I€got€to€swim€in€a€current€of€tears.€€I€got€to€go€throughĻthe€whole€grieving€process€with€that€girl.€€Sure,€I€helped.€€But,€I€couldnššt€have€done€it€withoutĻyou.ššĢ€€€€€š šThanks.šš€€They€embraced.€€š šLook€at€us,€Mr.€Bear.€€Over€time,€we€become€just€like€ourĻowners,€donššt€we?ššĢ€€€€€š šWe€certainly€do.šš€€Mr.€Bear€checked€on€the€toys€in€Michelleššs€room,€then€crawled€back€upĻinto€Stephanieššs€clutches€as€she€lay€sleeping.Ģ€€€€€Spring€cleaning€day€dawned€as€usual,€with€Mr.€Bear€sizing€up€the€piles€of€toys€which€wereĻbeing€put€in€the€corner.€€Stephanie€informed€him€of€what€they€were€doing.€€As€if€we€havenšštĻknown€for€weeks,€he€thought€to€himself.Ģ€€€€€Suddenly,€Michelle€wandered€into€the€girlsšš€room.€€He€grinned.€€Maybe€Michelle€would€takeĻAlphie.€€He€certainly€hoped€so.€€He€hated€to€see€that€dog€leave.Ģ€€€€€š šYikes,šš€he€thought€to€himself.€€š šMichelle€wants€me!€€Sheššs€been€after€me€ever€since€she€couldĻcrawl.šš€€He€wasnššt€used€to€children€younger€than€about€five€at€all.€€It€was€ironic€that€„€even€beforeĻPamššs€death€„€he€was€the€target€of€affection€for€not€one,€but€two€children.Ģ€€€€€That€wasnššt€what€heššd€expected€when€he€flashed€that€big€grin,€and€Pam€had€picked€him€up€forĻStephanie.€€š šStephanieššs€so€curious,€always€asking€questions€like€a€little€detective.€Always€talkingĻabout€anything,€really,šš€Pam€had€muttered€to€him€„€though€most€people€would€have€thought€itĻwas€to€herself€„€at€the€hospital€gift€shop.€€š šD.J.ššs€getting€big,€sheššs€gonna€get€a€bracelet,€but€youĻlook€like€youššre€made€just€for€Stephanie.šš€€When€he€arrived€at€his€new€home,€he€found€just€whatĻhe€expected.€€A€bright,€witty,€charming€child.€€Stephanie€was€a€little€younger€than€heššd€pictured,Ļbut€she€was€beyond€her€years€in€some€ways.€€At€age€four,€she€could€already€read,€for€instance.€ĻThose€first€few€months€with€Stephanie€had€been€so€much€fun.Ģ€€€€€He€sighed€as€he€watched€Michelle€pick€up€a€few€little€toys€and€animals.€€Alphie€was€not€one€ofĻthem.€€He€hated€to€see€that€little€dog€go.€€But,€he€himself€had€come€from€a€hospital€gift€shop.€€HeĻknew€there€were€many€hurting€kids.€€Maybe€Alphie€would€go€to€one€of€them.€€And,€he€wouldĻmove€on€without€him.€€Indeed,€Stephanie€herself€could€help€him.Ģ€€€€€He€failed€to€notice€Michelle€until€it€was€too€late.€€The€toddler€was€carrying€him€away,€unseenĻby€anyone€else.€€He€watched€as€she€went€downstairs€with€him.€€Michelle€stopped€for€a€momentĻand€examined€the€bearššs€outfit,€making€Mr.€Bear€very€thankful.€€A€toyššs€job€was€to€provideĻentertainment,€and€allow€children€to€use€their€imagination.€€He€wasnššt€sure€what€heššd€have€done€ifĻsheššd€carried€him€off€while€going€somewhere€she€shouldnššt.€€He€supposed€at€her€age€he€couldĻhave€come€alive€for€just€an€instant.€€It€hadnššt€happened€often,€but€heššd€heard€stories,€legends,Ļreally,€from€around€the€world.€€And,€if€he€had€to...Ģ€€€€€Someone€was€coming.€€Good,€soon€he€would€be€back€on€Stephanieššs€bed...oh€no!Ģ€€€€€He€fretted€as€he€went€into€a€very€dark€piano€bench.€€He€could€just€hear€someone€saying€š šthereŠ @-(, Šyou€are,€Michellešš€as€she€closed€the€lid€and€began€pounding€on€the€keys.€€He€was€thankful€itĻwasnššt€the€oven.€€Michelle€had€put€her€shoes€there€several€months€before,€according€to€Stephanie.€ĻBut,€still,€it€would€be€a€very€dull€time.€€And,€who€knew€how€long€heššd€be€there.Ģ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€shook€his€head.€€He€sincerely€hoped€Alphie€wouldnššt€suffer€the€same€fate.€€Lost€andĻignored€for€years.Ģ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€tried€to€think€positively.€€He€began€to€relive€things,€as€stuffed€animals€were€wont€toĻdo€when€frozen.€€Still,€thoughts€of€Alphie€brought€one€thing€to€the€forefront.ĢĢ€€€€€His€mind€drifted€back€to€a€spring€day€two€years€before.€€It€had€begun€like€any€normal€day.€ĻStephanie€had€spoken€to€him€and€to€several€other€animals,€talking€about€the€joys€of€spring.€€HeĻgrinned.€€Mr.€Bear€hadnššt€lived€through€a€œspringńń€yetńń.›€€And€it€would€be€just€like€Stephanie€to€takeĻthat€detective€bear€exploring€with€her,€or€at€least€tell€him€all€sorts€of€amazing€things€later.€€HeĻexpected€her€to€run€back€up€to€show€him€a€birdsšš€nest,€or€maybe€one€of€those€butterflies€thatĻcouldnššt€possibly€be€as€pretty€as€Stephanie€was€saying,€could€they?Ģ€€€€€Instead,€after€a€while,€heššd€suddenly€heard€Stephanie€running€up€to€her€room.€€It€was€a€soundĻfar€different€than€any€heššd€heard€before.€€Far€worse€than€the€š šIššm€in€big€trouble€and€going€to€myĻroomšš€cry,€or€the€š šI€just€skinned€my€kneešš€cry.€€Stephanie€had€grabbed€him,€crying€her€eyes€out.€ĻAnd,€as€he€was€carried€downstairs€and€hear€people€talk,€he€felt€as€awkward€as€any€toy€had€everĻfelt.€€He€knew€he€was€seriously€under„trained.Ģ€€€€€Toys€were€supposed€to€be€for€fun.€€Oh,€some€could€be€comfort€objects.€€But,€he€was€not€yourĻtypical€comfort€object€„€especially€for€a€girl.€€Heššd€heard€stories,€from€other€toys€whose€ownersĻhad€come€to€play,€of€children€who€slept€with€fire€chief€bears,€with€action€figures,€even€with€toyĻtrucks€and€trains€like€Thomas€the€Tank€Engine.€€But,€those€were€mostly€boys.Ģ€€€€€Yet€there€he€was,€being€carried€by€Stephanie,€away€from€the€rest€of€the€animals,€and€longing€toĻbreak€toy€rules€and€cry€out€for€assistance.€€He€knew€it€would€be€a€very€long€day,€and€it€was.€€HeĻcouldnššt€believe€the€places€heššd€gone,€the€sad€places.€€The€places€no€animal€ever€dared€take€hisĻowner,€but€where€owners€sometimes€had€to€take€their€animals.€€It€wasnššt€until€very€late€that€nightĻthat€Stephanie€had€finally€gotten€to€sleep.Ģ€€€€€Weary,€deflated,€and€sopping€wet,€his€being€sapped€of€strength,€Mr.€Bear€unfroze,€yet€felt€stillĻalmost€lifeless.€€He€sensed€he€couldnššt€leave€the€sleeping€girlššs€side€„€she€was€holding€on€for€dearĻlife,€with€him€hugging€her€back.€€And€yet,€he€needed€help.€€He€fretted€until€Alphie€and€PillowĻPerson€came€into€the€room.€€Pillow€Person€had€been€under€D.J.ššs€bed,€until€Alphie,€noticing€D.J.Ļwasnššt€around,€had€gone€into€D.J.ššs€room€to€get€him.Ģ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€gestured€with€his€head.€€š šYou€heard€the€news,šš€he€asked€somberly.Ģ€€€€€Pillow€Person€nodded€and€sighed€as€he€and€Alphie€walked€over.€€š šI€just€canššt€believe€itššsĻhappened.ššĢ€€€€€Alphie€laid€a€comforting€paw€on€Mr.€Bearššs€arm.€€š šWant€me€to€cover€for€you?ššĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€bit€his€lip.€€He€had€no€training€in€being€a€comfort€object.€€If€Stephanie€did€get€sent€toĻher€room€as€punishment,€she€was€just€as€likely€to€hold€Alphie€or€another€animal€as€she€was€him.€ĻBut€yet,€he€sensed€one€very€important€truth€about€his€new€situation.€€š šI€canššt€leave€her.€€I€mean,Ļsheššs€lost€the€most€important€thing€in€her€life,šš€he€exclaimed.€€š šHer€whole€world€has€been€turnedĻupside„down.ššĢ€€€€€Alphie€sensed€Mr.€Bearššs€nervousness.€€š šBut,€how€are€you€holding€up?ššĢ€€€€€š šThe€truth?šš€€The€others€nodded.€€Heaving€a€deep€sigh,€Mr.€Bear€admitted€š šI€feel€like€a€newlyĻsewn€ball€of€fur.€€Like€I€donššt€even€have€my€head€or€my€limbs€yet.€€Let€alone€that...consciousnessŠ @-(, Šlittle€kids€can€give€you.ššĢ€€€€€Rollie€the€Rhino€offered€to€take€over€in€Stephanieššs€arms€for€Mr.€Bear.€€š šYou€need€a€break.ššĢ€€€€€Pillow€Person,€the€most€experienced€of€the€stuffed€creatures,€showed€Mr.€Bear€how€to€wriggleĻfree.€€He€got€out,€and€let€Rollie€slide€in.€€š šWe€have€to€be€ready€to€change€back€at€a€momentššsĻnotice.ššĢ€€€€€Alphie€nodded.€€š šShe€could€wake€up€crying€any€second.ššĢ€€€€€š šYou€think€I€donššt€know€that?šš€€Mr.€Bear€threw€up€his€hands€and€ranted.€€š šAll€this€time€itššsĻbeen€ššMr.€Bear,€how€should€I€handle€Kimmy€Gibbler€here,šš€or€ššMr.€Bear,€letššs€figure€out€whereĻice€cubes€go€when€they€melt.šš€€I€was€even€ready€for€ššMr.€Bear,€letššs€figure€ńóńotuńóńńóńoutńóń€how€far€up€myĻnose€I€can€stuff€a€bead.šššš€A€rabbit€gave€a€š šbeen€there,€done€thatšš€look.€€š šBut€I€am€totallyĻunprepared€for€ššMr.€Bear,€my€mother€has€died€unexpectedly,€Iššm€scared€of€who€might€go€next,Ļand€I€feel€like€my€life€is€falling€apart.ššššĢ€€€€€Pillow€Person€wrapped€an€arm€around€him.€€š šItššs€hard€on€all€of€us.€€These€arenššt€the€nightmareĻmonsters€weššre€supposed€to€fight,šš€Pillow€Person€stated€bluntly.Ģ€€€€€Alphie€agreed.€€š šItššs€really€scary€for€you€too,€huh?ššĢ€€€€€š šItššs€not€just€that.šš€€They€gave€him€blank€stares.€€š šDonššt€you€see,šš€Mr.€Bear€complained.€€š šIššmĻa€comfort€object€now.€€She€knows€her€mom€gave€me€to€her,€so€she€picked€me.€€Iššve€beenĻpromoted€to€a€new€level.€€But,€thereššs€a€big€difference€between€that€and€a€mere€toy,€which€I€wasĻbefore;€even€if€she€was€holding€me€during€a€timeout.€€And€it€was€mostly€you,€then,šš€he€said,Ļpointing€to€a€bunny€who€had€been€there€since€Stephanie€was€two.€€The€rabbit€nodded.€€š šAnd,€oneĻof€the€main€job€requirements€for€a€comfort€object€is€that€they€shouldnššt€be€scared€out€of€their€witsĻthemselves.ššĢ€€€€€Alphie€hummed€momentarily.€€He€could€tell€Mr.€Bear€was€frightened.€€But,€he€also€knew€thatĻchildren€clung€to€certain€animals€for€a€reason.€€And,€it€wasnššt€always€just€their€looks.€€š šMaybe€thatĻcan€be€a€good€thing.ššĢ€€€€€š šWhat,šš€Mr.€Bear€and€Pillow€Person€spoke€at€once.Ģ€€€€€Alphie€paced€slightly€as€he€spoke.€€š šMr.€Bear;€I€was€just€a€grandmaššs€gift.€€And€grandparentsĻgive€all€sorts€of€animals.€€But,€you€and€Stephanie€share€something€in€common.€€Right€now,€Mr.ĻBear,€youššre€both€scared.€€And€confused.ššĢ€€€€€š šSo€what€do€I€say?€€I€donššt€exactly€sound€like€I€mean€it€when€I€say€ššItššs€going€to€be€all€right.ššššĢ€€€€€Pillow€Person€threw€up€his€arms.€€š šYouššre€right.€€This€is€a€disaster.€€A€tragedy.ššĢ€€€€€š šIššve€fought€nightmare€monsters€before,šš€Mr.€Bear€mused,€š šbut€Stephanie€helped.€€And€weĻbeat€them€through€our€cleverness.€€Sheššs€one€bright€girl.€€But€neither€of€us€is€clever€enough€toĻhandle€whatššs€happened,€and€whatššs€going€to€come.€€The€funeral€home€was€sad€enough€tonight.€ĻBut€the€funeral€itself?€€We€stuffed€animals€can€keep€pouring€out€love€in€incredible€ways.€€But€IĻdonššt€know€if€I€have€enough€strength€to€give€all€that€sheššll€need€from€me.ššĢ€€€€€Alphie€smiled€and€put€an€arm€around€Mr.€Bear.€€š šLook,€you€donššt€have€to€know€how€rightĻnow.€€She€needs€you€to€just€be€there€to€listen.€€Later,€you€can€provide€a€few€comforting€words,Ļand€then€more€as€you€go.€€But€what€she€needs€right€now€is€to€know€youššre€there€for€her.€€BecauseĻyou€are€a€link€to€her€mother.ššĢ€€€€€€Mr.€Bear€smiled€at€the€dog.€€He€always€seemed€wise€beyond€his€years.€€š šThanks.ššĢ€€€€€Rollie€cleared€his€throat.€€š šSheššs€shaking€a€little,€you€better€get€back€here,€this€looks€like€aĻnightmare.ššĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€was€amazed€at€how€collected€Rollie€„€won€by€Stephanieššs€dadššs€friend€Joey€for€her€atŠ @-(, Ša€carnival€when€she€was€three„and„a„half€„€could€be.€€He€sighed€as€he€leaped€up€and€went€backĻinto€her€embrace,€freezing€at€he€did.€€Though€she€didnššt€awaken€that€time,€she€did€several€minutesĻlater.€€š šMr.€Bear,€whatššs€going€to€happen€now?ššĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bearššs€eyes€grew€wide.€€He€thought€he€was€just€supposed€to€stay€frozen.€€Was€heĻsupposed€to€answer€that?!€€š šUh...everythingššs€going€to€be€all€right.šš€€He€wished€stuffed€animalsĻcould€pray€like€heššd€seen€these€people€pray.€€He€whispered€š šmaybe€you€should€go€wake€your€dadĻor€grandma.ššĢ€€€€€Stephanie€rushed€from€her€room€to€her€dadššs€room€to€D.J.ššs€„€their€dad€was€still€up€with€her.€ĻPillow€Person€had€snuck€back€under€the€bed€where€heššd€been.€€A€doll€had€been€standing€as€aĻlookout,€lest€she€start€to€look€for€him€and€find€him€not€there.€€Stuffed€animals€could€sometimesĻchange€positions€a€little.€€But,€this€was€a€very€bad€time€to€do€that.€€These€girls€needed€to€knowĻthings€would€stay€put.Ģ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€remained€quiet€as€Stephanie€and€Danny€talked.€€He€would€try€to€glean€as€much€as€heĻcould,€and€hope€for€the€best.ĢĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bearššs€mind€shifted€back€to€the€present.€€He€had€helped€Stephanie€so€much€then.€€EvenĻafter€she€met€Allie,€her€first€day€of€Kindergarten,€she€still€clung€to€him.€€She€got€agitated€a€lotĻmore€easily€than€D.J..€€In€a€way,€he€was€glad€D.J.€hadnššt€relied€on€Pillow€Person€quite€as€much.€ĻBut,€that€pillow€could€only€guess€how€to€handle€things.€€Alphie€almost€seemed€more€able€toĻhandle€things,€more€able€to€help€him€cope.€€Stephanie€had€carried€him€around€a€fair€amount,Ļalthough€that€amount€decreased€quite€rapidly€as€the€months€wore€on.Ģ€€€€€And€now,€was€Alphie€able€to€help€another€kid?€€Or€would€he€just€lie€somewhere,€forgotten?€ĻAnd,€How€long€would€it€be€before€someone€opened€that€piano€bench?€€In€most€households,€itĻcould€be€a€long€time€before€he€was€found.€€But,€in€a€household€with€a€toddler,€the€average€lengthĻof€time€was€two€hours,€it€seemed.€€And€if€not€„€he€needed€to€figure€out€how€to€check€for€time,€soĻhe€could€get€out€and€catch€up€on€things€when€it€was€nighttime.Ģ€€€€€Sure€enough,€just€as€he€thought€of€that,€Michelle€opened€the€bench€and€pulled€him€out.€ĻStephanie€seemed€elated€to€see€him.€€She€still€clung€to€him€a€lot€sometimes.Ģ€€€€€After€they€finished€watching€home€movies,€Mr.€Bear€wondered€if€the€others€had€seen€himĻleave.€€He€hoped€they€werenššt€worried€about€him.Ģ€€€€€Once€he€got€placed€upstairs€and€Stephanie€left€her€room€again,€Mr.€Bear€noticed€two€things.€ĻPillow€Person€was€back€on€D.J.ššs€bed.€€And,€Rollie€ńėńńźńańźńńėńńģńańģńńķńńźńjńźńńķńńźńppearedńźńńźńwasńźń€baffled,€to€say€the€least.€€š šDo€youĻhave€any€idea€whatššs€been€happening€here,šš€he€exclaimed€as€soon€as€they€could€safely€move.Ģ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€looked€around€casually.€€š šNo,€canššt€say€as€I€do.€€Except€that€our€friendlyĻneighborhood€pillow€here€seems€to€have€been€found.ššĢ€€€€€Pillow€Person€threw€up€his€arms,€then€beckoned€Mr.€Bear€out€the€door.€€š šFollow€me,šš€heĻinsisted.Ģ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€gasped.€€In€Michelleššs€room€were€literally€dozens€of€new€stuffed€animals.€€š šDidnšštĻanyone€tell€the€bunnies€they€werenššt€supposed€to€multiply€with€us,šš€he€shouted.Ģ€€€€€Pillow€Person€shook€his€body€„€he€really€had€no€head€per€se.€€š šThatššs€just€it,€Chief.€€StephanieĻwas€so€bummed€because€she€thought€you€were€gone,€so€she€got€the€chance€to€pick€from€one€of€allĻthese€animals€their€grandparents€brought.€€Except€Michelle€got€into€them€on€the€couch€andĻclaimed€them€all€for€herself.ššĢ€€€€€Pinky,€Michelleššs€pig,€oinked€adamantly€š šI€havenššt€even€begun€to€get€the€names€straight.€€AndĻsome€donššt€have€names.€€And€donššt€think€they€wonššt€all€stay€Michelleššs,€either.€€Sheššs€alreadyŠ @-(, Šnamed€the€panda€here€Peaches.€€ššCourse,€she€was€thinking€about€dinner€at€the€time.ššĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€rubbed€his€chin€and€mused,€š šAt€least€she€didnššt€have€to€go€to€the€bathroom.€€Iššd€hateĻto€think€of€what€she€would€have€called€him€then.€€Well,€I€guess€weššll€have€to€have€one€massiveĻwelcoming€party,€then.šš€€Mr.€Bear€grinned.€€š šAll€you€guys€still€couldnššt€take€the€place€of€me,Ļhuh?€€Boy,€that€would€really€warm€my€heart€„€if€I€werenššt€made€of€stuffing,€of€course.ššĢ€€€€€After€several€minutes€of€telling€the€animals€about€the€family€theyššd€just€come€into,€Mr.€BearĻand€Pillow€Person€received€a€shout€from€Rollie.€€š šHey,€some€girls€might€be€coming€this€way.šš€ĻThey€raced€back€into€their€former€positions€and€froze.Ģ€€€€Stephanie€was€coming€upstairs€with€a€classmate€who€Mr.€Bear€had€seen€a€couple€times.€€But,Ļmost€amazingly,€there€was€Alphie!Ģ€€€€€š šLook,€Mr.€Bearńīń.€€Sally,ńīńńīń,ńīń€I€used€to€have€a€dog€just€like€that,šš€Stephanie€remarked.€€š šWouldnšštĻthat€be€funny€if€it€was€Alphie?ššĢ€€€€€The€visitor€shrugged.€€š šCould€be.€€I€just€know€I€got€him€today.ššĢ€€€€€While€the€two€played,€Alphie€managed€to€sneak€over€to€Mr.€Bear.€€š šPoor€girlššs€parents€areĻfiling€for€divorce.€€Sheššs€ńóńrealyńóńńóńreallyńóń€going€through€some€hard€times.ńļń€€Iššve€heard€lots€of€stuff€ńļńńšńńļńińļńńšńńńńjust€in€theĻlast€hour.ńńńššĢ€€€€€Mr.€Bear€grinned.€€š šWell,€I€guess€you€got€to€the€place€you€were€meant€to€go.ššĢ€€€€€Stephanie€quickly€looked€over€that€way,€and€the€two€froze.€€š šMr.€Bear,€Sally€says€she€doesnšštĻknow€if€thatššs€Alphie€or€not.€€I€think€itššs€gotta€be.€€I€mean,€Iššm€sureńņń€youńņń€teach€all€these€otherĻanimals€so€much€about€friendship€and€love€and€stuff.€€Donššt€you?ššĢ€€€€€And€in€the€wonderful,€ńóńtinelessńóńńóńtimelessńóń€imagination€of€a€little€girl,€Mr.€Bear€smiled,€and€nodded€hisĻagreement.