Final Thoughts

The silence is broken as he clears his throat. Then in a low, gruffled tone, he begins his story.

"Funny thing is... they were right... Your life really does flash before your eyes right before you die...

You don't get to really watch the whole thing like a movie... It's an odd thing really, some moments are like remembering the day before... An idle recollection... Some flash past so quickly you hardly notice em... Imagine those were things not really worth recollecting...

...and then some... Some slow down to where time seems like it's flowing normal. Like your there again, and you can't help but feel a faint taste of the air that day in your mouth... well, what's left of it...

The first things I remember was the factory, coming fresh off the assembly line. Eyes full of wonder. My head already working over the rules in stone before I realized I was thinking... He.. we all knew the rules... Don't talk to the kids, don't let them see you move... Natural for us to know it... And most importantly... we're there... for the..."

He trails off for a moment... staring into space...

"After the factory we got shipped off to the store, don't remember much from the trip, just dark, crowded, and everyone chattering about where we'd end up...

Some teenager pulled us off the truck and carted us over to the display in the store. We were all together... All trucks, trains, cars... even had a few boats... It skips around there... just day's of watching kids go by picking one of us and whisking them off to there new home.

Some were nervous, hell, all of us were curious but she... She was the most eager. To get picked up by a little boy or girl, and see their smile as they played with her. She talked about it almost every day... Pretty little Volkswagen beetle... The only thing that outshined that bug's emerald paint, was the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about who her owner might be.

Back then I thought it was a shame we weren't bundled together. The little bug had grown on me those weeks we spent on the shelf.

One day a young mom and her kid picked her up and put her in their cart. I could tell her little heart was beating like a drum as they went to the front of the store. Before they even made it to the register the kid wanted some candy or something and the mom said no. The little, kid, threw a hell of a tantrum and the mother had to drag em out of the store... Bug sat in the cart for an hour before the worker put her back next to me... She didn't talk much that night...

A few day's later some suit walks in and heads right over to our display, grabs us by the armload. Was to early in the season for businesses or preschools to be buying in bulk. I didn't pay too much mind though, he'd grabbed me and I was going to be on my way.

Heart skipped a beat as I saw his hand's next move... He picked up that little emerald bug. I was ecstatic, looked like we'd be together after all...

Fades out till we made it home and we met our... owner. Plucky little girl... Seemed thrilled to have a new bundle of toys. I'd have bet my back tires we would've been a gift for a boy. Figured she must've been a tomboy...

We were freed from our cardboard an plastic houses and set up on a shelf... The girl wanted to... play with us right off the bat, but the parent's told her she had to go to bed and she could play tomorrow.

Bug was downright giddy about having a little girl for an owner. Talked about the games they'd play all night... Asked me if the girl might have fun painting flowers on her with nail polish...

I told her that the girl would probably get it on her windows, but Bug didn't care. She just... reminded me of that 'most important' rule...

'It's every toy's duty to make it's owner happy.'

Bug... Said that at least five times a day... even back at the store... And I sure as hell couldn't dampen her spirits even if I'd the heart to, now that she had one night away from making her owner happy...

Always figured kid's slept in till there parent's dragged em out of bed... Not this one though... First crack of dawn she was up and getting ready. Moment she left the room Bug turned to me from down the shelf, asked me what game I think we'd play first...

Heard a chuckle from one of the guy's that hadn't come with us... One of her older toys... Said we wouldn't be so eager pretty soon... Didn't pay too much mind to him... Had to resume positions anyway as we heard the girl coming back up the stairs.

Girl looked us over... plotting what 'games to play'... Ended up reaching for the guy who'd spoke up earlier... Was a van, plain, black, not too noticeable... probably why he made it to 'old age'.

The girl set him down and I quickly realized what he'd meant... Our, owner, meticulously went about her work as we watched in horror...

I'd figured the van was a punk, but... no toy could end up deserving that... The girl swept his parts away carelessly with her shoe...

I glanced an eye over to Bug... She was trembling... Tears running down her eyes... Never thought I'd see Bug cry... Before the moment could go any more stale a hand grabbed her up...

She looked back at me as the girl carried her to the floor setting her up... That look in her eyes..."

A long pause passes before he continues...

"The stage was set... But before the girl could 'play' her parent's called her downstairs... I rolled to the edge and looked down at Bug... Even from the shelf I could see her shake... I could hear her whimpering that damn rule... 'It's every toy's duty to make it's owner happy.' Even after what she'd seen... even set up on the floor and knowing what was waiting for her...

As we heard footsteps coming to the door she looked up at me... Terror in her eyes... I... I had to wheel back to my spot on the shelf... I couldn't see where Bug was on the floor...

I watched as the girl paced around and muttered some dialog to herself... Playing... I felt sick... My heart stopping every time I saw the girl move... up until that dull... drawn out crunch...

You'd never seen such a sinister smile on a little girls face...

One by one... day by day... that... girl, 'played' with the rest of them on the shelf... Till I was the only one left from our store...

Last week a new guy showed up... Some sort of pose able action figure... Don't have the heart to tell him... I wasn't going to even talk to him at first... I had my plan, and I didn't feel like making friends...

But after he got his first day's view I heard something that night... One of the other toy's harassing him... said; 'still want to make you're owner happy?'

They didn't get it... none of them did... But that new guy... His flame was just dampening... If anyone would understand before I did it... he would...

Of course he thought my plan was crazy... But I figured he would from the start... That's why I had to do it then... To show him what the rule really meant... To really believe in it till the end... To be a good toy...

I rolled off the shelf...

Maybe I'd get to see Bug again...