Look what I found!

It looked like any other morning in my toy repair shop. It was anything but that.

As usual, I took Cinnamon for a walk in the garden, then we have breakfast together. Eggs and toast for me and veggies for Cinnamon. Yes, he eats healthier than I do, it’s what fennec foxes do, right?

I was ready for my workday. There are plenty of toys I need to mend. But no, not yet; the postman was at the door. He brought a parcel.

TO: Mr. Edward Harding

Toy Doctor

Lavenham, Suffolk

That’s me, all right. I love it when they call me a toy doctor. I just repair them, but it’s never “just” that. My customers say I bring back memories from childhood. Let’s see whose memories are in this box. Cinnamon is already jumping all over me. His sense of smell is remarkable, and the box makes him more curious than usual.

At the worktable, I inspect the box and the contents. A note written in crayon does most of the explanation: “please save my friend Teddy” and all of that. “Thank you very much” signed Victor. After 40 years of repairing every toy possible, I already know Teddy needs a wash, a new filling, and two buttons. I write everything on a chart and put Teddy’s box aside. I’ll get to him later.

I’m throwing Cinnamon his rag bone, hoping I can get some work done.

On the list for today, I have a doll. She has way too much make-up on and a hairdo that would send any Prince Charming for the run. It looks like she attended a permanent marker tea party. I have a cleaning solution of my own and all the marker stains will come off easily. Some moisturizer will untangle the hair. Later I will paint her eyes again and get her dressed for the next tea party; hopefully less permanent.

Cinnamon is hissing and skipping around Teddy’s box.

“Dear, I need to fix the doll first, then we’ll take care of Teddy.”

He leaves for a little while. I make easy strokes around the doll’s eyes and a little touch-up on the cheeks. Now the face is finished and only needs to dry. Meanwhile, I search in the clothes box. If the clothes in this box were in grownup sizes, I would make a fortune selling them. I’m lucky my dear Jinny is such a talented seamstress.

My foxy is already sniffing through the cloth pieces and I find a summer flowery dress. He agrees. No, the fox doesn’t speak but pretty much does everything else.

By the time I get to my worktable, Cinnamon is tugging Teddy’s box again.

“Please stop or you’ll rip it and I must mend the hole too!” But nothing. He keeps at it. “All right, let’s see how we can help Teddy. I have some time until the doll’s face dries. I’m examining the bear to find a seam in the back and take out the filling. I find a spot that has been sewn around. A careful grandma or mommy has done a fine job. So, out goes all the filling. I figured as much; it was all polyester, but I’d rather use some wool. It will keep Teddy and Victor a little warm and it feels better, too.

My Cinnamon likes the filling too much, so I must take it out of sight and out of smell. But to my surprise, through the filling, I find a piece of paper. It has some stains on and I’m guessing that’s why it was so interesting to my fox. The paper is thin, and I use some tweezers to unfold it, taking great care.

“My Sophie, this little bear will carry all my love for you! Please keep it safe until I can hold you in my arms again. Farewell, my dear girl! Yours always, Daddy”

Oh, that is sweet! Who might Sophie be and what happened to her daddy? I guess the sender wrote it a long time ago. People don’t talk like this nowadays, neither do they write on paper that much. Fascinating! What an exciting morning, here in my little repair shop!

I call Victor’s parents and try to find out if they know anything about this story. His grandmother will bring him over later. In the meantime, I’ll sew up Teddy so I can surprise him.

On my way to the toy room, I notice Cinnamon is sneaking out with some brown rag in his mouth. It’s not the first time he’s done it, so I’ll let him be.

Hmm, I thought I left Teddy in its box, on the worktable, but no sign of him. Oh, I hope it’s not in that rascal’s mouth. He must have jumped on those boxes and onto my worktable. I should have named him “Curious George”, just like in the cartoons.

“Cinnamon get back here with that! I told you to keep away from the bear!” He’s not impressed, so I trade the bear with a bone. He’ll be busy munching on it for a while. He didn’t chew off any limb, but I must wash the bear again.

Ah, what a day and it’s already noon! My stomach confirms it. It’s time for lunch, although a quick one.

Teddy is ready, at last. He has a new nose, black eyes and a smile to conquer anything. I prepared a patch for his paw. Maybe Victor and Grandma would like something stitched on. People ask me for initials, but this time I don’t dare decide by myself.

My guests arrive soon after. I’m glad to meet little Victor and his Grandma, Mrs. Sophie Ross.

We sit down for tea and a story. I show them Teddy and the envelope with the letter. It heartened Grandma. Her mind traveled back in time 70 years and brought daddy’s memory back. Here it goes.

“My dad sent me this bear. He was a major in the Second Anti-Aircraft Division during World War II and was stationed in Italy. After the bear, he sent us a few letters, then we lost contact with him and found out the enemy had taken his plane down. So, this is my last memory from him. I was about Victor’s age when he died. I have some photos of him in the memories box.”

Even Cinnamon is listening quietly to the story, curled next to Grandma. For the first time today, he is calm. He likes her voice, I guess. She is a talented storyteller, indeed.

I almost forgot the patch I had prepared. Embroidered and sewn on the paw, it will give Teddy a unique charm. They both agree it’s a welcomed addition. The bear is now ready to bring joy for years to come. Signed, “S&V”!

As for Cinnamon and I, it’s time to call it a day. Who knows what the postman will bring tomorrow?