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He grabbed his keys from the dresser. Shutting down his thoughts, he went to start the car.
* * *
Jim wasn’t there whenthey arrived. A veterinary nurse showed them through the back of the building into the post-operative wing where animals recovering from surgery were caged. Honey whined as soon as they entered the room. Her tail thumped but she remained laid on her side; her blue-bandaged leg appeared stiff and awkward. The nurse opened the cage so they could touch her.
“Hey, girl, how’re you doing? Yeah, that’s my baby,” David crooned, petting her as she licked his hands enthusiastically while making whimper noises in her throat. He noticed Penny hanging back, tears in her eyes, and reached for her hand, drawing her beside him. Honey’s tail thumped excitedly at her approach.
“See how pleased she is to see you,” he told her. She bent and placed her hand on the dog’s head.
“I am so sorry, Honey,” she said. The dog yipped happily and licked her. Penny smiled.
“See, she doesn’t blame you and she is going to be fine,” he said. Turning to the nurse, he asked when she thought they could take Honey home.
“I couldn’t say. Jim will be back from his visits soon. I’ll ask him to give you a call.”
“Please. Come on, Penny, time to go.”
They didn’t talk much in the car; David glanced at her as they waited at red traffic lights. She appeared pensive. The lights turned and soon he slowed and indicated left.
“Are we stopping?” she asked.
“We are!” he replied, pulling into the car park of the Build-A-Bear factory shop.
“Oh, my word!” Penny squealed and clapped her hands.
As they entered the shop she held back.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.
“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” she muttered.
Gently he grasped her arm and pulled her aside to allow a father and daughter to enter the shop. “Penny, what’s wrong?” he asked again.
“If I am not going to be a little anymore then I shouldn’t be here,” she muttered sadly.
“Rubbish, men buy girlfriends, wives, and sweethearts cuddly stuffies all the time, regardless of age-play!” he admonished gently.
“Yeah, I suppose.”
“Well, don’t try and sound too thrilled!” he said sarcastically.
She grinned. “I’ll try not to,” she responded cheekily.
He urged her forward and smacked her butt. “Ouch! David... not here!” She swung around and glared at him in outrage. He grinned. “Behave yourself then,” he said, enjoying himself.
They trawled the shop, looking at readymade examples of every conceivable type of stuffed toy animal and creature from dinosaurs to unicorns and everything in between. Penny picked up toy after toy and squealed with delight over a Winnie-The-Pooh replica.
“You’d like a Winnie-The-Pooh?” he asked.
“Oh, no, I want something special just for me!”
He hid his satisfaction, noting she’d spoken using her little voice.
“Can I help you?” an assistant asked.
“I don’t know what I want,” Penny told her.
“That is quite common. Why don’t we begin with the fur type? Come with me and we will begin to build your perfect friend.”
