Finding a new companion

During my big brother's school days, I was very bored at home. My mother would stay by my side, but what better way to have fun than with Ko Ko? When she went out to cook, she left me with toys in the living room and kitchen. "Little one, don't cross over to the other side. It's here that you'll be under my eyes. Play around here. I'll play with you as soon as I has finished cooking." Koko used to tell me to nod my head if I agreed. As Koko taught me to nod my head a little, so I nodded and said, "Yes, Mom."

It was good to play with toys. You could ask them to do whatever you wanted or give them a name you liked. I could place them; which dolls were good guys; which toys could be positioned as the villains. Did dolls like to do what I wanted them to do? Were they happy with what I did? If only dolls could talk like humans . . . If only dolls hurt . . . If only dolls had feelings of sadness and happiness . . .

I had also experienced pain. I also felt sad when I no longer played my favorite game and when Ko Ko cried because of me. I also used to feel happy when playing with Ko Ko; On my birthday when I heard the birthday song sung by Mom, Dad and Ko Ko; when Mom and Dad hugged me. If I were a doll, in the world of dolls, would the dolls 'Mom', 'Dad' and 'Ko Ko' treat the doll 'me' like I would in this world? When I was got mad at, would they throw me away like I did to the dolls in this world? As, in this world, my mom kept the toys I no longer wanted to play in the store, would the doll 'Mom' would keep the doll 'me' in the dark?

I sometimes felt I were a vase.

At times, they even looked like a puppet.

At times, the world I once lived in was alive again here.

I loved living in this world. I also liked the fact that I got more and more exposed to new things days by days. Everything was new yesterday, but today it is old. New ones appeared every morning. It was as if I had more and more toys days by days.

That day, I played with toys while waiting for my mother to finish cooking. After her housework, Mom played with me for a while. Then my mother gave me a shower. I really liked the orchid bath soap my mother gave me. Sweet smelly. When I took a shower and used this soap, I felt calm and relaxed. A thin layer of soap, the touch of cold water . . . These two were ones of my favorite things to do. (I used to call 'orchids' based on the scent of orchids but I had never seen an orchid like anything else. I had never seen water. Sometimes it was cold. Sometimes it was still hot. Even I had not known what shape or colour can be represented for what water was, I had known only from experiences, the touches I had, that there are two types of water: the cold one and the hot one.

I did not have partner to play with, so I, immediately, fell asleep after taking a shower. Dad was also at work. Mom was still doing the house neat and tidy in a good view. Ko Ko also went to school. So it might be better to sleep. When Dad and Ko Ko return, they must be encouraged to play with me.

In the dream of that afternoon, I was sitting alone. All around me was a large black plain. All I knew was that I was there. I could not see even my body, my head, my hands. I just sat there knowing I was there. There were no good reasons for why I was sitting for a long time there. All I could think about was blackness.

Thoughts were black. . .

I was black. . .

Black all around. . .

The world was black. . .

But after a while, the sound of "whistling, woof woof" came closer and closer to me. Then I heard Ko Ko said, "Little one."

I came back to this world when my brother woke me up.

The "whistling, woof woof" sound was really audible.

My brother was also there.

"Here is a gift for you, Little one"

Dad hugged me and put it in my lap, and that thing was still licking my hand with its tongue, and it was still kissing me. It looked like a alive doll.

So . . .

"Is this a puppy?" Humm . . . Is this a puppy, Ko Ko? "

". . . . ."

I did not know why. There were tears on my face. Maybe because of happiness. I asked, but they did not answer anything to me.

But after a moment,

"Dad," he said, "Mom, is this a puppy, right?"

"Yes, Little one. It's a puppy. On the way home from school, your big brother Ko Ko went to pet shop with to buy a puppy for you as a companion when we can't be with you like when Ko Ko goes to school, Dad goes to work and Mom's busy with her housework. Do you like it?"

"Do you like it? Don't cry, Little one. Think of it as Ko Ko. When we are not here, the real puppy has arrived as your partner. Okay?"

"You didn't even answer when I asked."

"How can I give you an answer when you are crying, Little one? Leave it at that. What would you like to name this puppy? Have you thought about it?"

". . . . ."

I had to think for a while. The name given to this baby should be easy to pronounce. And I must like it, too.

That . . . Yes . . .

"I'll call him Dodo"

"Dodo . . . ”

"Well, boy, your master has given you a name. Do you hear, Dodo?"

The ingoing of "Dodo" into my life changed the way I thought only new toys would ever be my new companions.

I looked for new friends in my lonely life.

And then the new companion arrived without a hitch.