Eyes

There once was a girl named Agnes who had the prettiest eyes anyone had ever seen. She lived in Briarwood, within the Woodhurst region of Falkirk. Everyone in her village gawked and gasped as she walked about town, clutching the sleeve of her father’s coat for security. She constantly clutches her favorite teddy bear, Theodore. Theodore’s button eyes were missing, and they were going to the toymaker’s shop in the neighboring village of Dewport to get him fixed.

“Is he going to be okay, Daddy?” she asked.

“Yes.” her father replied.

They continued to walk about the town, in silence, the father practically dragging the girl behind him so as not to endure the eyes of the public for longer than they need. Agnes' eyes tended to keep fellow villagers stares fixated on them.

They arrived in Dewport, and made a beeline for “Jerry’s Joyous Toy Shoppe”. They entered, and were greeted by a friendly smile.

“Well, hello! Welcome to Jerry’s Joyous Toy Shoppe. How can I help you today?” a woman wearing a red apron said to Agnes and her father.

“My daughter’s teddy bear here seems to be missing his eyes.” her father tried to rip Theodore out of the girl’s arms. She screamed “No!” and clutched onto him with all her might.

Agnes’ father chuckled. “I’m sorry, she is quite fond of Theodore. He doesn’t leave her side.” the father explained with an annoyed look toward the girl.

“That’s quite alright, would you mind if I took her in the back with me to fix Theodore?” the woman asked. The father agreed. The woman bent down, so she was level with Agnes' eyes.

"My, you have very pretty eyes." the toy maker said with a wide grin. "Do you mind if I hold your hand?" Agnes shook her head. "Great!" the toy maker took Agnes' hand, and with one final glance back at her dad, Agnes went behind a curtain.

The woman brought the girl to the back of the shop. This new and wondrous place was filled with toy parts, doll's eyes, Pinocchio noses, wooden arms, fabric legs, and much more. The little girl looked around in awe as she held the toy maker’s hand.

“Wow, this is so cool!” Agnes said. The woman chuckled in response. Suddenly, a quizzical expression filled Agnes’ face. “Wait a minute..”

“Hmm?” asked the woman.

“You don’t look like a Jerry.” Agnes said confidently.

The woman laughed. “Jerry is my husband!” she explained.

Once they reached the workbench, the woman and Agnes stopped. Agnes was swiftly lifted onto the hard wood surface. The woman gingerly took Theordore out of the girl’s hands and laid him down. She turned on the lamp and put on a monocle.

“Well, the good news is, he’s easily fixable!” The woman said with a grin. “But the bad news is… I don’t have the proper eyes for Theodore.” her smile faded. The little girl began to cry.

“I’ll do anything, Mrs. Jerry!” Agnes said, sobs catching in her throat.

“Anything?” she asked.

“Anything!” Agnes affirmed.

The father waited at the counter in the front of the store for the woman to return with his daughter and Theodore. After a moment, the curtain to the back of the store swung open, revealing his precious daughter, the woman, and Theodore with his new eyes.

The father gasped.

The woman laughed.

And Theodore had his new eyes.

And the little girl bled.

And Theodore bled.