Blog Calendar
◄     September     ►
SMTWTFS
 
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Archive RSS
About This Author
Well, hello. I’m still testing this.
Angel Feathers
Basically anything under 1k or 500 words that's not a Drabble, an Express It in Eight, or a Promptly Poetry. Enjoy *Smile*

Merit Badge in Fantastical RA [Click For More Info] Thank you for supporting [Link To Item #mbm] and entering a wonderful entry. Merit Badge in The Elevator Pitch [Click For More Info] “ People say nothing is impossible , but I do nothing every day. ” A.A. Milne Thank you for your Round 3 entry. [Link To Item #pitch] ▼ ▲ Merit Badge in Cool Cats Don't Look Back [Click For More Info] Thank you for participating in the April 2025 [Link To Item #mbm] ! Merit Badge in Ashley Smashly [Click For More Info] Here is your merit badge magic badge. Merit Badge in Long Poetry Contest [Click For More Info] Thanks for entering a new poem in [Link To Item #2329179] for May, 2025! *^*Star*^*
Merit Badge in Roots and Wings [Click For More Info] Thank you for participating in the May 2025 [Link To Item #mbm] ! Merit Badge in Rebel Poetry [Click For More Info] Congratulations on winning the May 2025 round of [Link To Item #rebelpoetry] with [Link to Book Entry #1088609]! Merit Badge in Writing 4 Kids [Click For More Info] *^*Heartg*^* Your lonely little entry in Writing 4 Kids / May Round , at least deserves a Merit Badge and a handful of GPs. Congratulations on writing such a lovely story! Thank you for entering. *^*Heartg*^* Merit Badge in The Norb Award [Click For More Info] Thank you for participating in the June 2025 [Link To Item #mbm] !
Merit Badge in Merit Badge Magic II [Click For More Info] Congratulations on submitting three consecutive monthly projects at [Link To Item #mbm] ! Merit Badge in Bard's Hall Town Crier [Click For More Info] 3rd Place for your story, "Liberty," Bard's Hall Contest, July 2025, Excellence in Flash Fiction Merit Badge in WDC Media Prompt [Click For More Info] Thank you for your participation in the 48-HOUR CHALLENGE: " Dear Time by Alison Brown and Steve Martin feat. Jackson Browne " Media Prompt hosted by [Link To User support] September 2025! We appreciate that you tackled this challenge... *^*Smile*^* *^*Thumbsupl*^*


September 16, 2025 at 8:10am
September 16, 2025 at 8:10am
#1097467
I sat in a corner of the bathroom, wiping away tears, the messy evidence of my wrongdoing snuggled in my lap. How could I ever forgive myself after what I'd done? I had hurt so many people when I snatched the beautiful white teddy bear away from my little cousin Susie.

It was a family reunion in my uncle's backyard. There must've been a hundred people attending, from really old grams and gramps to little squealing babies. Most of them were strangers to me. Mom and Dad seemed perfectly happy, hanging around with plates of corn and hot dogs, laughing and chattering and taking group selfies. I slipped in between people, looking for cookies.

Dessert was served right against the speaker system. I snuck up and grabbed a handful of oatmeal raisin cookies. The music exploded with such throbbing power, I tried humming and couldn't hear myself! I got away from there super quick. The volume fell as I put space between myself and the source.

As I tried to find a quiet place to sit down, my cousin Susie ran up to me, dragging a stuffed bear. The spotless white blouse and perfectly pressed pants she wore contrasted with my plaid shirt and worn-out jeans. I didn't know Susie all that well; I think her parents were my aunt and uncle who were hosting the reunion.

“Mikayla, say hi to Pete!”

She hoisted up the bear and waved its paw at me. I reached out and shook it, staring. Pete was a gorgeous, plush, silky white bear, with a pink velvet ribbon tied around his neck. His mouth was sewn with a cheerful smile, and his blue eyes twinkled like gemstones. I'd never seen anything like him before.

“Good heavens, Susie, where'd you get that bear? He looks like a million bucks.”

“He's an FAO Schwartz bear,” she said boastfully. “My dad bought him for my birthday. My dad's rich – he can afford to buy me whatever I want.”

I sighed as I thought of my own dad, who'd just lost his job. Mom was working two jobs now, and Dad spent most of his time online, applying for new ones. This reunion was probably the first time they'd relaxed and enjoyed themselves in weeks.

“You shouldn't be dragging Pete along on the floor like that,” I frowned. “He'll get all dirty and stained.”

“That's ok, Daddy can get me a new one,” she chirped.

My frown started deepening into a glower. The few stuffed animals I owned had been my best friends for as long as I could remember. Didn't Susie bond with Pete? She must be really spoiled!

“Seriously? Money doesn't grow on trees. I don't think your dad would be happy if you ruined Pete.”

“He won't mind.”

Susie skipped along, hauling Pete after her without a care in the world. He winked like a mischievous polar bear cub.

The next time I saw her, she had Pete in her lap at the kiddy table during dinner. I was appalled to see her ladling food all over his face, pretending he was eating.

“Susie, stop that! How could you be so silly?”

“Pete is hungry,” she scolded me.

I groaned. This was too much. I bent down and pulled Pete up away from her. She let out a shriek and grabbed him back.

And that's how the tug of war started. I wanted to take Pete and clean him off at the kitchen sink. Susie wanted to keep “feeding” him. We yanked and pulled and twisted, with Susie yelling and screaming. Some infuriated stubbornness made me give one last desperate pull, tearing Pete out of her chubby hands.

“Look what you've done to him!” I snapped, holding the stained, dripping teddy bear aloft. “This is disgusting.”

All she could do was sit on the floor and wail as if her heart was broken. At this point, I was so grumpy, I didn't think she even really cared. Let her daddy come distract her with some other fancy toys, and she'd forget all about Pete. But the adults descended on us, and I fled, clutching poor Pete, as they cooed with concern.

I ran upstairs and locked myself in the guest bathroom, heart pounding as though I'd just stolen a… Teddy bear. Geez, how had it come to that? As the frustration of the moment faded away, the consequences of what I'd done sank in. Mom and Dad would be so ashamed of me. I'd picked on a younger kid and made her cry. I'd stolen her toy. I'd yelled at her in front of everyone.

I sniffled. Pete's twinkling blue eyes stared up at me with a blank look, his smile obscured by the mac and cheese sauce splattered all over him. I patted his head and grimaced at the crusts beginning to solidify. With a heavy sigh, I got to my feet and turned on the faucet.

“Looks like you'll be getting a bath tonight, Pete.”

I grabbed some towels from the rack and started wetting and wiping. Maybe if I got Pete cleaned up enough, I'd be able to bring him back to Susie and apologize. Maybe I could explain to her parents I'd just wanted to teach her to take better care of her toys. But I figured nobody would ever want to see me again. I started making plans to quietly leave Pete all nice and clean in a corner and run away.

Someone knocked at the door as I scrubbed and sudsed the teddy bear.

“Mikayla? Are you there?”

It was my aunt. She sounded worried. What could I say?

“Mikayla, say something!”

That was my uncle. He sounded worried, too. Did they think I was flushing the bear down the toilet or something? I unlocked the door and peeked out.

“I'm washing the bear. Susie was spilling food all over him. She thinks she's feeding him.”

“We understand, honey.” Auntie smiled at me. “That's very nice of you to want to clean it up for her.”

“You should have told us what she was doing,” Uncle said gruffly. “We would've handled it. You acted like a little bully.”

“Yeah, I know. I'm sorry.” I stared at my worn shoes, balanced over the threshold. “I couldn't stand seeing her trashing it like that. It's so beautiful. I was going to give it back to her. Really.”

“I think you should go downstairs and apologize to Susie,” Auntie said. “We'll put the bear in the washer, ok? I'm sure he'll clean up as good as new.”

“Are Mom and Dad mad at me?”

“They're wondering where you are. They're upset, but if you go down and explain and apologize, they'll forgive you.”

“Really?”

“Of course they will,” Uncle said. “They love you. It's just a toy. You meant well enough, I suppose. It's not like you wanted it for yourself.”

I went downstairs with them and apologized in front of everyone. I hugged Susie, telling her Pete was tired from all the fun and had to be put to bed early. Susie was tired, too, her eyelids drooping as she mumbled something about wanting to sleep with her teddy bear. Auntie carried her upstairs, promising she could hold Fido instead.

I sagged into a chair, watching as Uncle brought Pete into the laundry room. He winked at me before shutting the door. I hoped he would teach Susie a thing or two about taking care of her toys. I didn't want that to ever happen again.

notes ▼

Merit Badge in Newsfeed 7 [Click For More Info] Awarded for interacting with our community on the Newsfeed every day for a week . This badge can be earned over and over again. Each of these badges adds one (1) Community Recognition!
From Treasure Designs Shop
Officially approved Writing.Com Preferred Author logo.
Join "Invalid Item" Open in new Window.
*Thought*  Comment


© Copyright 2025 Amethyst Angel h✟k ♡ (UN: greenwillow at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Amethyst Angel h✟k ♡ has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
... powered by: Writing.Com
Online Writing Portfolio * Creative Writing Online