Benny

I glanced down at my wristwatch as I briskly walked down each of the aisles filled with every toy imaginable. Time was not my friend today. I breathed a sigh of relief when I found the stuffed animal aisle.

"Now comes the hard part," I mumbled out loud as I rummaged through the various plush toys that lined the shelves of the aisle. I cried out in exasperation as I glanced down at my wristwatch again. I had twenty minutes left.

A loud ring came from overhead followed by a voice, “Shoppers, due to holiday hours, we will be closing in five minutes. Thank you for shopping at Kelsey’s Department Store.”

I felt the sting of tears well in my eyes as I began to tear briskly through the remaining stuffed animals. I sighed in relief as I moved a lion stuffed toy and saw the treasure that I was seeking. Wide, auburn eyes stared blankly at me as the tears fell from my eyes. I rushed to the check-out line only to discover that four people were in front of me already awaiting the cashier to check them out as well. I impatiently bounced on the balls of my feet awaiting my turn. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man in the store’s uniform, rush towards another register.

The gentleman flicked the switch on the pole in front of him, and his register number lit up. “I’m open over here-” he called towards the growing register line I was stuck in. I didn’t wait for him to finish his sentence before I tore away from the uniform line and slammed my token on the conveyer belt. “In a rush, I see.” He said as he chuckled.

I nodded. I fumbled in my pocket and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. Once he had scanned the barcode of the item, I quickly slammed the bill on the conveyer belt, grabbed the toy, and rushed for my car as I searched my pockets for my keys. I put the car in reverse, narrowly missing a blue jeep that was coming down the aisle in the parking lot as I tore onto the main road. I still had the brown bespeckled stuffed mass of fur grasped in my hands as I swerved in and out of traffic.

“I can’t be late,” I chanted. “I can’t be late!”

In the distance, I could see my destination, and I began to speed up. I hadn’t seen him in over two years, and I refused to miss my chance at seeing him this year when everything had been working against me these past few years. I needed to see him, I needed my heart to mend - if only for a little while. The traffic light turned red, and tears sprang to my eyes as I impatiently awaited the green to go.

Once the light turned green, I speed through the intersection and swerved into the parking lot. I grabbed the stuffed toy as I raced into the train station. My heart skipped a beat once I saw him.

“Mommy!” He cried as we both locked eyes. He came running towards me. “Mommy, mommy, mommy!”

“It’s about time,” I heard my dad audibly say through the crowds of people in the train station, but I didn’t let it dampen my mood.

We collided in a heartfelt embrace. His tears soaked through my shirt. After a while, I found my voice and held up the surprise that I had brought for him. “Look, what Mommy got you!” I exclaimed.

“Oh wow, Mommy!” He exclaimed as he took the stuffed barn owl that I had just got. “You got me another Benny!”

My dad walked up closer as I heard his sound of disgust. “Cheap,” he scoffed.

I ignored my dad’s comment and smiled at my son as I watched him hug Benny tighter.

“I sure did,” I said.

“I’ll love him forever!” He said as he gave me another bear hug with benny included. “Family hug!” He exclaimed.