Custom Curios: Daddy Buddy Bear, Part 1
Andrew was driving home after work on Thursday night, driving through a suburban neighborhood that he didn't frequent often. In fact, he didn't know why he was driving this way at all. It really was a longer way home than his normal route. But the sun was shining and the sky was blue on this beautiful June day, that he really didn't mind too much.
It wasn't that there was anyone waiting for him at home. He'd been divorced from Nicole now for seven years and his now eighteen year old daughter, Mackenzie, was living with her. He wasn't looking forward to coming home to an empty house, making yet another microwave dinner, and settling in for TV for the night. Just like every other night.
A yard sale ahead caught his attention. He didn't know why, since he rarely visited them. He didn't need anything and certainly didn't need anything used. But something made him stop.
He parked his car on the side of the road and checked his rearview mirror before opening the door. There were three ladies looking over the tables that dotted the front lawn, each filled with clothing, toys, exercise equipment, and kitchen gadgets.
An older gentleman, probably in his seventies was sitting at a table that contained what looked like a cash box. He was the owner. Andrew nodded at him as he briefly looked over the tables.
Then... something special caught his eye. It was a giant, stuffed bear, about the size of a smaller man, propped up and sitting in a rocking chair beside one of the tables.
"Now that's interesting," he mumbled. He walked over to it and looked it over, looking for damage or tears, but it looked in really good shape. He picked it up and felt it's weight... not too heavy, but it did have some weight to it. It was certainly well made.
A hand-written price tag was pinned to it's ear and said it was $50.
"And the price looks good. I bet she'd love it," he said to himself.
"You like that?" an older gentleman asked, making him jump. He had no idea where he came from so suddenly. He looked thin and frail, but his muscle tone was unmistakable. Andrew couldn't place his age, but knew he had to be at least eighty years old.
"Yeah, I do," Andrew said. "Is this your yard sale?"
"Oh no," the older gentleman said. "This is Willie's sale. I'm just here to help him."
Andrew extended his hand. "Andrew," he said.
The older man extended his hand, which felt cold and boney as Andrew clasped and shook it. "Randy."
"How old is this, if I might ask?" Andrew said. "It looks like it's in great shape."
"Oh, I couldn't even hazard a guess at it's age, I'm afraid," the old man said. "Things like that come into a family for a season and then when their usefulness wanes, go to another family. I think Willie here's had it for thirty years or so."
"Thirty years?" Andrew said, surprised. "Wow... it's in remarkable shape then."
"Would you like to take it home?" Randy asked, a smile creasing his gaunt face, his teeth showing, making Andrew shiver. He looked very sinister when he smiled. "It needs a new home now."
"Oh... well... I was thinking about it actually," Andrew said. "My daughter is having a birthday party this weekend and she collects stuffed bears. This would be really something unique to add to her collection."
"Very nice," Randy smiled again. "And there are a few special features of the bear as well."
"Features?"
"It's not just a toy, you see," Randy said. "This one is also useful for security. There is an embedded security camera and microphone in the head that you can access to watch over your little one and make sure she's safe."
"Well... um... that can come in handy. My daughter isn't little, mind you... she's turning nineteen this weekend. But her mother is having some issues with her sneaking out and maybe I can use this to keep tabs on her."
"Yes... a wonderful use indeed. Maybe she won't sneak out as much then."
"Does it connect over Wifi or something?"
Randy took the glasses from the bear's face and handed them to Andrew. "These glasses connect to the bear to allow you to see and hear. Try them on."
Andrew put the thin, plastic glasses on and within seconds, it was as if he was seeing from the bear's point of view. He saw the tables and the lower part of his body standing there. "Oh... wow!" he said, surprised. He pulled the glasses off.
"Ok... um... I'll take it."
"Wonderful!" Randy said.
Andrew picked up the bear and walked with it as Randy led him to Willie's table. When Willie looked up at them, his face immediately changed. He didn't look too happy.
"I wasn't going to sell that," he muttered to Randy, a mix of anger and sadness written on his face.
"Now, now, Willie. You and Crystal no longer need it. It should go to another home, now. To someone else who can use it."
"I know... but..."
"We talked about this Willie. Remember?" Randy asked as if scolding his friend.
"Yes... I know... but..."
"This is Andrew. He wants to give it to his daughter, Mackenzie, for her birthday this weekend."
Andrew was startled for a moment. "How did you know my daughter's name?"
"Oh... I don't know. I'm sure you must have mentioned it while we were talking," Randy said, looking a little puzzled.
"I... I guess," Andrew said. Everything felt so strange... so out of place and eerie, even in the bright sunshine. He couldn't wait to get away from here. "It's... uh... fifty bucks, right?"
Willie looked down and put his hands in his lap as if in defiance. "Willie, take the good man's money and let the bear go."
Willie looked up at Randy with tears in his eyes. Then he turned his attention to Andrew. "Yes... fifty," he said curtly.
Andrew felt sorry for the man. He guessed there was some kind of bond between he and Crystal that the bear helped him with and he was probably sad to see it go. Andrew could understand. He'd felt his bond with his own daughter disappear over time, too.
After their divorce, when Mackenzie was only twelve, he only got to see her every-other weekend... and it didn't feel like enough. She was growing up... and growing up without him. And when she turned eighteen, she visited far less frequently. The last time he saw her was three months ago. The last time he even talked to her was a month ago, and that was barely even a conversation.
He handed Willie fifty dollars in cash and carried the bear to his car, setting it in the front seat like it was an adult, sliding the seatbelt over it to keep it in place.
*****
"Oh my gosh! Thanks daddy!" Mackenzie gushed when he handed her the bear on Saturday, a bright red bow tied to its head.
"Happy birthday, Mack!" he said, smiling, giving her a hug. It was so good to see her smiling like that. It really had been so long since he'd seen her. And to see her this happy warmed his heart.
She hugged it tightly as she took it from his arms and carried it back to her bedroom. When she emerged again, he took her hand and walked her to the car where they went to dinner to celebrate her nineteenth birthday.
*****
It was only a week later that Nicole, his ex-wife called.
"I need you to help me with this Andrew," she said.
"I'm not sure what I can do."
"She's... she's just not the daughter I raised," she said, sounding extremely concerned. "She talks back to me all the time and she's just leaving the house for Heaven's sake. I'm really worried about her. I don't know what's happened to her. Did she say anything to you about it?"
"No... nothing," he said. He couldn't imagine what she was going through that would cause her to behave like this.
"Can you call her or talk to her or something?"
"Ok... ok... I'll call her and see what I can do," he said.
"Please do. And don't just put it aside this time, ok," she said. Andrew could feel the insult and felt a strong desire to say something back. This was typical of their conversations... no matter what it was about... no matter how it started... she always had to put a dig in there, something that always led to a fight between them. But this wasn't the time to start a fight.
He closed his eyes, trying to control his emotions. "I said I'll call her, ok?" he said slowly and calmly. "Is she home now?"
"Yes. For now."
"Ok."
Nicole hung up the phone. He pulled his phone from his ear and looked at it, almost in disbelief that she just hung up like that, and shook his head.
Nicole truly was concerned for her daughter and must really need his help and support if she was calling him about it. She never called him. He picked up his phone, getting ready to call Mackenzie, when another thought crossed his mind. He got out of his chair and walked into the kitchen. He slowly opened the junk drawer and pulled out the little, plastic glasses that came with the Daddy Buddy Bear.