The Toy

Chocolate the Moose

Ding! Ding! Ding! The recess bells chime, releasing the children from their prison and relieving the teachers of their frustration. Fourth graders all rush out into the chilly autumn air. Newly fallen leaves crunch under the stampede of feet. But, one pair of feet calmly makes its way to the swings.

A small, blue-eyed brunette clutches her toy as she climbs onto a swing. Eleanor Lloyd is more interested in quietly enjoying her freedom than playing a rough game of tag with the others. No, watching them is much more entertaining. Seeing them all flail about, trip, and fail to catch each other is most amusing. Although Timothy, her twin brother, is extremely good at the game. He never trips, he barely gets caught, and he won't ever stay "it" for very long. Of the two siblings, he is the more athletic and social one. He is always surrounded by friends. Eleanor is too shy to make friends. The only friend she has is her stuffed toy, Chocolate the Moose.

"What is that?" A voice comes from her left. Eleanor looks over and finds a blonde boy staring with green eyes that seem to be criticizing her. "E-Excuse me?" she squeaks back in response. The boy glares and repeats slowly, "What is that?" He points to the moose.

"H-His name is Chocolate—"

"I didn't ask for its stupid name!"

"Why are you yelling at me?!"

The boy loses patience. He snatches the toy away. Eleanor screams a protest at him but he ignores her. He searches the brown, bean-filled moose, finds the tag and snorts. "It is actually named 'Chocolate'? Tch, that's so stupid."

Eleanor stomps her feet. "Give him back!" she demands as her voice cracks with emotion. When she realizes he is not going to listen to her, she tries take the toy by force. She approaches him but the boy roughly pushes her away. She screams. Eleanor falls back and her head slams onto the ground.

"Ellie!" a familiar voice shouts. Eleanor could barely see the figure running toward her through the tears that began to build in her eyes.
"Timothy?" She sits up.

"Keith! What did you do to her?!"

Keith's face turns pale, "Nothing, Timmy! Nothing! I-I just—"

"Just what?!" The angry brunette boy grabs the blonde by his jacket.

Eleanor sobs, "H-He took Chocolate away from me a-and pushed me away when I tried to take him back."

"No, I was just playing, Timmy! I didn't mean to—OOF!" Timothy punches Keith in the stomache and Keith drops the moose. "ARRGH!" Keith roars and jumps at Timothy. The two start wrestling. Eleanor rescues her toy from the fight, but continues to cry. "Guys! Stop it!"