Where The Child Things Are

The Adventures of a Boy Named Leo

[wherethechildthingsare]

THE BOX KING

“When I was a child, I would hide. In spaces you could crawl inside. To block away all the noise. And have some fun with my toys. Away from mommy’s screams that blow. Away from all the to and fro. When I was a child I would hide. In spaces I liked to build outside.” 

The sound of Mommy’s voice calling my name “Leo!” got me out of bed. I look out the window and see that the sun is almost awake and the sky is speckled with clouds. I put on my favourite blue pants and run down the stairs to see her. Mommy is in the kitchen making bird nest toast and bacon for me and my big sisters. 

When I see her, I give her a big squeeze and she gives me a kiss on the head. Then, Mommy pulls me away and crouches down so her eyes are looking right at mine.

“I have a surprise for you, sweetie.”

“Oh yeah! What is it?”

“Well, I got some packages this morning and they all came in great big boxes.”

I feel a smile on my face. I love when mommy get packages because they always come in cardboard boxes. I love boxes because it means I get to go on an adventure today. I give mommy one more squeeze and scream “THANK YOU” as I run away into the office where I find the boxes. There are twelve different boxes and they are all different shapes. Some are squares, some are rectangles and some are long triangles. 

I bring all the boxes into the back yard outside along with all my toy figures, stuffed animals, and blankets. I look to see everything I have and wonder, what I will do with them today?

Maybe, I could build a rescue fort in the jungle to save and healing hurt animals. Or, I could build a spaceship, flying to new planets, looking for aliens and dodging meteor showers. 

No wait, I got it. I will build a castle, a box castle, the largest box castle in the world, and I will be the one true king, The Box King.

I begin to stack the boxes so that there are high walls on all four sides. I grab my stuffed animals and line them up outside the castle. I put the smallest blanket around my neck as a cape, and I put the paper crown I got in last years Christmas cracker on my head. I run back outside and get in my castle to start my ruling when I hear mommy’s voice calling my name.

“Leo! Time for breakfast.”

“What? But I haven’t even started playing yet.”

“I am not going to call you again.”

I look at my castle and sadly go inside for breakfast anxiously waiting for when I can get back and start my adventure.

[wherethechildthingsare]

THE RUNAWAY CHILD

“When I was a child, I would run away. From people asking me to stay. I ran to see what was ahead. Sometimes mommy thought I was dead. The world just seemed so big and wide. I wanted to be my own tour guide. When I was a child I would run away. To see the world that would be mine one day.”

I am sitting at the kitchen table colouring in my favourite Cars colouring book while I wait for Dada to finish making lunch, grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.

"Hey, sonny boy, lunch is almost ready. Clean up your stuff and set the table”

“Okay Dada.”

I finish up colouring the last of Lightning McQueens lightning bolt and get up to start clearing and setting the table. Dada is just cutting the grilled cheese into triangles when Mommy comes into the kitchen.

“Hi Mommy. Want to have lunch with me?”

“Hi sweetie. I wish I could but I’m heading to Costco now.”

“Can I come?”

“Sure, sweetie”

Dada puts my sandwich into a bag so I can eat it in the car, I give him a squeeze, then mommy and I leave. When Mommy parks and after she helps me out of my carseat, I grab her hand and we walk towards the store. I love Costco because it has everything; food, toys, and candy. Plus, every time I go, Mommy gets me something I like.

We first stop in front of the bread shelves and Mommy grabs some bagels while I start looking around to see what I want.

“Okay Leo, I am going into the Fresh Produce fridge. Stay with the cart, I will be right back.”

“Okay, Mommy.”

I keep looking around to see if there is anything cool.

“Oh wow, Christmas!”

I run towards the display and start looking at all the Christmas decorations around me. There is a talking Santa, a jumping reindeer, and flashing lights. I look at everything to see if there is something I really want, but nothing seems right. Then I see it, rows and rows of candy. There are so many options, I can’t decide on just one. Maybe Mommy will let me have two. 

All of a sudden, I hear a voice screaming my name.

“Leo! Leo! Where are you?”

I run out of the candy aisle and see Mommy looking for me. I run towards her and I can see tears in her eyes.

“Oh Leo. I thought I lost you forever. You do not run away from me like that. What were you thinking?”

“I got excited when I saw the Christmas lights and then I found the candy aisle. I just wanted to find the perfect thing to get.”

“Well, you aren’t getting anything now. You scared me half to death!”

After we finish shopping, we start walking back to the car. Once I am secured in my carseat, I look back at Costco and wonder what I will get next time.

[wherethechildthingsare]

THE LIVING TEDDY BEAR

“When I was a child, I had a bear. He was a toy, I did not share. We were best friends, all through my life. And we never had any strife. He brought me joy when I was down. And I brought him all over town. When I was a child, I had a bear. And in my eyes he was very rare.”

I can’t decide between my two superhero PJs, Superman and Batman, for bed tonight. Both of these PJs are used for a specific purpose. My Superman PJs gives me superpowers and my Batman PJs helps me fight bad guys and tonight I am not sure what I want to dream about. I think I need Dodo to help me decide.

Dodo is my bear. I’ve had him for my whole life, all 7 years. He is a brown bear, wears a dirty white t-shirt and had brown glass eyes. My auntie gave him to me when I was born and he has been with me ever since. He comes with me on adventures, when I go out and play, and I always have him in my hands when I go to bed. Whenever I need anything he is always there for me. He is my best friend in the whole world and he is all mine. My sisters keep telling me that I am too old to have a teddy bear and that I should not be so close to a toy. But, Dodo is not a toy, he is real, he is alive.

I start looking for him so he can help me decide what to wear, but I can’t see him on my bed. I check under my covers, under my pillow, and under the bed but nothing. I check my closet, my laundry bin and the toy chest. He is not there. I start to feel scared. What if I can’t find him? What is he is gone forever? I run into Mommy and Dada’s room. Dada is watching TV in bed and Mommy is folding fresh laundry.

“Mommy, Mommy!”

“What is it Leo? What’s wrong?"

"I can’t find Dodo!”

“What? Did you check your bed?”

“Yeah, and the closet, and the laundry bin, and the toy chest.”

“Ok, well maybe he is downstairs. So, check there just to be sure.”

I run down the stairs and into the office first. I check under the desk, behind the chair and on the bookshelf. Nope not there. I then go check the the living room first under the couches and then behind the couch pillows. 

I am starting to think that all hope is lost and I can feel tears in my eyes but then, I lift up the last couch pillow and there he is. I pick him up and give him a big hug. 

I run upstairs to tell Mommy that I found him but I am so confused. I have never played with Dodo in the living room before.