The Stuffed Animals Relocation Center

[rayaso]

 

Idol Mini Season 2024
Prompt 1
“Someone who will love you in all your damaged glory”
July 6, 2024 

The Stuffed Animals Relocation Center 

My name is Fuzzy Wuzzy, and I need your help.  I want your support for my Stuffed Animals Relocation Center.  I rehome abandoned or lost stuffed animals.  Your donation will help support this worthy cause.

This is my story. 

I am a brown teddy bear, somewhat on the large side, with replacement buttons for eyes and a crooked smile from when Mom repaired me.  I even have a nursery rhyme: 

          Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear,
          Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair,
          Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t very fuzzy,
          Was he?    

I started the Center because I was abandoned by my Boy who outgrew me, even though he loved me and I loved him with all my stuffing.  I never got another child, even though I had so much to offer.  When the Boy was done with me, he stuck me in a box and Mom put it in the attic.  I was all alone, in the dark, with a broken heart. 

Time passes slowly when you’re imprisoned in a box.  Everything was dark and there was no light in my life.  But that didn’t stop me from feeling and thinking.  The lonelier I got, the more I thought about other stuffed animals in my situation.  All that pain was crushing, and I knew I would do something about it, if only I were real and could move and talk.  But I was just a teddy bear stuck in a box.  I promised to dedicate my life to helping other lovies, if only I could get out!  I even had a name for my project – the Stuffed Animals Relocation Center.  Cats, dogs, and other pets could get rehomed, so why not stuffed animals? 

And then it happened!  There was a flash of light in my box, which I did not understand until I heard the sound that came with it – the faint whirring of fairy wings.  I had been visited by a fairy!  How or why, I did not know – that is the way fairies are.  But I could move!  And I could talk! 

I managed to climb out of my box, but the fairy was gone.  I got off the shelf and found my way out of the attic.  I needed to get Outside, but I couldn’t reach the doorknob and stuffed bear paws aren’t good for much.  I hid behind a nearby chair and waited.  At last, Mom came home, carrying sacks of groceries.  She didn’t see me as I slipped out the door.  More like waddled, since stuffed bear legs are also not good for much. 

I hid by day and waddled by night.  I didn’t know where I was going or what I was going to do.  I only knew that I had to keep moving and continue hoping. 

I was moving down a sidewalk late at night along a busy street when it happened.  No, not another fairy.  It was a taxi.  A bright yellow Karl’s Cab passed by me, but then it slowed and stopped.  Karl got out and walked back to me! 

“What’s a teddy bear like you doing out at night,” he said, “and where are you going?” 

“I don’t know,” I replied. 

“Well, what are you going to do when you get there?” asked Karl. 

“I want to find new homes for stuffed lovies who need them.” 

It sounded ridiculous when I said it out loud.  But not to Karl. 

“I know just the place,” said Karl. 

We drove in his taxi for a while, neither one of us talking.  Then he stopped at Joy’s 24-Hour Dry Cleaning and Alterations.  Karl took me inside, and explained my situation to Joy’s daughter Rosie, who handled the night shift. 

“I know where to start,” said Rosie. 

Rosie dry-cleaned me and then went to work fixing me up.  When she was done, I was as good as new!  She even gave me a bright red bow tie made of ribbon. 

Rosie and Joy let me stay with them in the store.  They put a doll crib in a storage closet so that I would have a place to sleep. 

Karl bought me a voice-activated telephone and Rosie offered to do the typing, since stuffed bear paws aren’t good for anything except hugs. 

I got to work right away, trying to find abandoned stuffed animals.  It was very slow going, but I gradually built a network of sources.  Things really took off when Rosie’s cousin created the Stuffed Animals Relocation Center website and twitter account, and got us online.  We hear about a lot more animals now, and Karl will pick them up if needed. 

Rosie cleans the poor animals and repairs them, and I find them new homes.  I carefully screen all the children to make sure they will love and care for them.  Most of our animals go to orphanages, foster children, and the like, kids who have so little and who need the love our stuffed animals provide. 

It’s a creaky, slapdash system and it could be made better, helping more lovies and the children who deserve them.  We need your help.  We would love volunteers to assist with the work, and of course we need money to keep operating.  Your donations will go to saving unloved stuffed animals and brightening the lives of children who need that special love that only a stuffed animal can provide. 

Please visit our Stuffed Animals Relocation Center website (www.sarc.org) and help us in any way you can.  The animals and children will love you for it. 

Now you know our story.  Please help us! 

Fuzzy Wuzzy, Director
Stuffed Animals Relocation Center

Comments

[murielle]

I am melted. Where I was there's a puddle of mushy hugs and cuddles on the floor.

G, you've done it again!

(Must keep this in mind for when I've shuffled off said coil so my Teddies will be loved forever.)

[rayaso]

Thank you! It's been about 3 years since I've written anything and I really felt it. I needed a chisel for the rust. I still have my main teddy bear. He's over 60 years old now. We're both vintage.

[murielle]

I understand. It's been at least a couple of years for me. Lots of inspiration, not a lot of anything else.

But you came out swinging! :-)

[drippedonpaper]

That's a great idea :) There's a lady in the town next to mine who will "fix and refurbish" old stuffed animals. It's wonderful when a kid needs something sewed back together or a parent is redoing an old loved bear for a grandkid.

Your story is very creative :)

[rayaso]

Thank you! I think the woman who refurbishes stuffed animals must be a very interesting person.

[thephantomq]

Fuzzy Wuzzy is out there, doing the real work to help his community. :sob: I love him so much.

This was such a cute way to do the prompt, oh my God.

[rayaso]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I loved your comment about Fuzzy helping his community.

[fausts_dream]

I'm 53 and have roommates... Tough guys who've been in prison. But I still sleep with Oscar the otter. (He has been reincarnated into a seal body this time but that's a story for another day).

Good to see you, excellent entry.

[rayaso]

I suspect you're a tough guy yourself. I would love to hear about Oscar the otter and how he transitioned to a seal!

[bleodswean]

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! It's such a treat to read your voice again!!!

[rayaso]

Thank you so much! As you know, I usually write weirder stuff, but this is what popped into my head and I couldn't get it out.

[roina_arwen]

This was adorable! I was saddened by the thought of any lovie being alone and stuck in a dark box for years. *shudder*

[rayaso]

The fate of lovies who are outgrown is usually sad. I still have my main teddy bear.

[roina_arwen]

I no longer have my main teddy bear (although the first lovie I remember was a koala bear) but I still have what I called a “little pillow” which used to be a satiny handkerchief holder that my grandmother sewed closed for me. I’ve probably had it over 50 years now. Think of a smaller (maybe 12”x 14”) satin version of Linus’s blanket.

[rayaso]

That is wonderful! My bear is about 65 years old.

[muchtooarrogant]

LOL I loved that "fuzzy wuzzy" rhyme as a kid. Fun read.

Dan

[rayaso]

I don't know when I first heard the fuzzy wuzzy poem a long time ago when I was a child, and it has stayed with me. Thank you for your comment.

[pixiebelle]

Befofe I moved abroad, I had a very large teddy bear that meant the world to me. I couldn’t bring her with me and tried to re home her to no avail. I hope she found her way into a good home, I’m still sad about it years later. Your piece made me think of her.

[rayaso]

I am so sorry about your teddy bear. I understand your sorry. I am sentimental by nature. We have our children's stuffed animals.

[adoptedwriter]

Awwwww..... Sweet!!!

[rayaso]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[hangedkay]

this was a nice take on this type of story. it brings out the feels too.

[rayaso]

Thank you. It just seemed to fit the prompt.

[halfshellvenus]

This was such a sweet story, and I remember how our kids felt about stuffed animals and how important it was for every stuffed toy to find someone to love it.

since stuffed bear paws aren’t good for anything except hugs.
I like this line, and the comments about waddling. The things that make teddy bears wonderful also make them less fit for dealing with day-do-day life.

[(Anonymous)]

Life outside is tough for teddy bears - so many obstacles to overcome. It was a good thing that Fuzzy had help. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

[static_abyss]

This is SO fun and amazing. I loved the tone and that you set it up as a donations post. Excellent story all around!

[rayaso]

Thank you. I enjoy writing light stories.

[swirlsofpurple]

Absolutely love this interp of the prompt and the characterisation of Fuzzy Wuzzy

[rayaso]

Thank you so much! I started with something completely different but I didn't like it. Then I thought about rehoming stuffed animals.

[unmowngrass]

oh, cute!

[rayaso]

Thank you!

[banana_galaxy]

What a sweet teddy bear! I'm glad he found a great team to help him get started.

[rayaso]

Thank you. We all need a support team, especially teddy bears.

[winter_time]

I read this the other day but now I'm getting time to comment and honestly I just sat and re-read it all I loved it that much. The imager, the sweet story and the dialogue all brought me so much joy, and I'm so glad to see you back here again (I was d0gs on lj!)

[rayaso]

Thank you so much! What a great comment. I'm glad you told me your alter ego. I'm glad you're participating. I have the feeling there are several people who have new names, but I've been out of the game for over 2 years and I don't know who they are.

[mollywheezy]

This is so delightful and creative! I still have and love my stuffies from childhood. All of us are antiques. ;)

[(Anonymous)]

I'm glad you enjoyed the story. I prefer to think of myself as vintage.

[mollywheezy]

LOL. Vintage or antique, whatever you want to call it. ;)

[gunwithoutmusic]

You're always one of my favorites; I really liked this idea and the execution of it. I think my favorite part is the off-handed fairy that's just chaotically animating stuffed animals and disappearing. Good to see you back!

[rayaso]

It's good to be back. I've always enjoyed your writing. May we both make a deep run.

[alycewilson]

I wanted so much for this to be real! What a sweet story. I adore it.

[erulissedances]

I must admit to having kept all of my stuffed animals. My two favorite bears are on one of the chairs in my living room and get daily hugs. So ... I'm a sentimental old lady - LOL.

- Erulisse (one L)

[rayaso]

I still have my main teddy bear and we saved a lot of our children's stuffed animals. I'm glad you liked the story.