Project X: Cookies and Toys

Still in her thoughts, Alexx couldn’t help but smile as she walked out of the hospital, and back to her car. She sighed in blissful happiness as slipped into the driver’s seat and drove away. This place would become her new home, and she already felt good about it.

So much that when she got home, she did a bit of unpacking—starting with the kitchen. Then after most everything was put away in cabinets, under the sink, Alexx started putting boxes by the door that she would take with her to the new office.

By two o’clock, she stopped for lunch and felt slightly satisfied with the day. Just as she was cleaning up her plate and glass, a knock in the door had her putting off doing the dishes until later. She turned off the water and wiped her hands on her jeans as she walked over to the front door.

The thought, “I wonder who that could be. It is the middle of the day.” did seem to cross her mind as her hand turned the knob, to find Marie, Robbie, and a little girl in her arms—while Robbie was carefully holding a plate of cookies in his hands.

“Alexx!” Robbie chirped happily, holding up the plate. “We made you some cookies.”

“I see that. Mm…and they’re even chocolate chip.” She took the plate, rustling his hair with her hand. “Thank you. That was very thoughtful of you guys.”She opened the door further, “Please, come in.”  

“Thanks. It didn’t occur to me that you had just moved in, and we hadn’t even welcomed you. So, Robby suggested that we make you some cookies. That’s what we’ve been doing most of the morning.”

“It’s fine, thank you.” A comfortable silence followed Alexx she set the plate of cookies on the table. When she turned back, Robbie had his hands stuffed in the pocket of his jeans, while curiously looking around the living room.

His little nose crinkled up as he pulled on his mom’s shirt. ”Mom? Why does Alexx have so many boxes in here?”

“Why don’t you ask her?” Marie gestured, instead of telling her son the answer that he wanted to hear.

It took a few seconds, but he turned to Alexx, taking small, shy steps towards her. “Alexx, why are there so many boxes in here?”

Alexx bent down to his level, hands on her knees. “Well, because I just moved here.”

“Into this house?” His voice squeaked at the end of his sentence. “Do you have any toys?”

“Not yet. But I’ll have to get some if you ever come over and visit. Do you know that I have a niece just about your age?”

“You do?”

“I sure do.”

“Will she come over and play?”

“I’m sure she will some time.”

He let his finger relax on his chin, as if he were thinking hard about the next question that he was going to ask. “What’s her name?”

“Aimee.”

“Aimee?” He repeated curiously. “Does she have toys too?”

“He loves his toys.” Marie clarified. “Has a whole chest full of them in his room.”

“Well, toys are cool.”

“Yeah!” Robbie agreed, running his hand up the wood railing on the stairs, then flipped back around, as if he got the sudden thought. ”And I have a really cool batman toy that has wings and everything!”

“Coool.”

Marie leaned in, whispering. “Which got stuck in the garbage disposal somehow and got ruined. Not really that sad to see it go.” They exchanged a laugh, to which she added. ”He took that toy everywhere.”

Alexx gave a reminiscing laugh. “Sounds like my niece when she threw her Barbie doll into a garbage can full of old food. My sister would not let her take it out of there because basically the doll’s hair was pretty much ruined.”

“Yeah. He hasn't started to look for it yet, but I’m worried when he does, because he’ll look up at me with those sad eyes and ask me if I know where it is, which is when I’ll have to remind him about the reasons we don’t put toys down the garbage disposal.”

“Oh, the hard truths of childhood.”