Exploring

The toy falls 

faster 

faster 

closer to the ground 

its paws reaching out

it lands on the grass with a light thud

it hides there

waiting

quietly.

The child that loved the toy dearly walks away

unaware of the departure of its sole friend.

The toy waits until the child walks far enough away

and then perks up

stretches its limbs

then disappears among the dandelions.

The toy marvels at the real world

what it has only seen through shiny windows

how the grass and the trees sway in the wind that the toy can now touch

how the air is fresher than inside

how easily one can get lost in the beauty of nature

and just get lost in general...

The toy stops,

spins around

the child is nowhere to be seen

the toy now desperately wishes to return to the safety of the child's arms

dashing about frantically

calling out silently for its friend

stuffed paws lightly thrumming against the earth

looking for the way back

for a path

slipping

falling into mud puddles

what was once a fluffy and gray stuffed animal becoming dirtier

muddier

as dandelion pollen sticks to the toy's polyester fur

grass clippings sticking to the mud that clung to the toy

spinning

chasing

running

frightened

worried

scared

lost

but finally

the toy catches sight of the child's wild curls

it runs

faster

faster

closer to its lifelong friend

then the toy collapses

as if it had been there all along.

The child

worried

frightened

confused

looks around for its friend

looks left

right

even up

then down

to see a muddy, grassy lump near the child's feet.

The child doesn't recognize the toy in its dirty state

but then it begins to rain

starting with a drizzle

but quickly escalating into a downpour

little rivulets of water streaming down the child as it stares at the toy

the mud washing away

the pollen giving in to the rain

the grass being swept away by the persistent droplets

and once all of nature's camouflage is washed away

the child finally saw the toy

sodden but overcome with joy

of returning to its best friend.

There would be no more exploring that day.