TE BEST TOY IN THE WORLD (A Tale for a Christmas in Crisis)
He didn’t remember the toy-shop to be there. Perhaps it was a temporary shop with charitable aims for Christmas. Maybe they have used toys; that would be good for he could’nt afford to spend much money. He was looking for some cheap toy, a very cheap toy. Perhaps the shop-assistent could help him.
Another victim of the uemployment. After the building collapse, the brick factories factories had been the most affected and in these factories, the first letters for layoff had been for those more recently joint to the company. Now, he would have unemployement compensation for some months and after...?
It was his first afternoon without work. After the lunch, the three had sit down facing the TV silently. The child had been told that dad was on holidays and the kid was glad with both parents and the long parade of toys in the TV screen. Meanwhile he was asking himself how to manage to reach the end of the month and how to buy some toy for the child with so a few budget.
- Did I behave well this year?
The question had catch both parents off guard. The plain truth was the their child was wonderful.
- Yes, very well indeed. You have always eaten your soup, and you have always obey to us. You have behaved very nice.
- Then, Santa Claus will bring me a nice present...
He had felt his wife’s hand picking up tensed his own hand. He was at the brink of tell his son the truth but he lost courage to do it, so he hugged the kid as he said to him:
- Of course, they will bring you a nice present, the one that the best son in the world deserves: the best present in the word!
- The best present in the world? –the child was glad. And what is it?
- You will see it when you will get it. Now, continue seeing the picture while mum and dad clear the table.
Ande there was he, in the toy-shop, as in a cloud, embarrased and ashamed. He thought in going out but the shop assitent’s kind voice calmed him down.
- Can I help you...?
- Oh, well, I’m looking for a toy for my child but, you know...
He raised his eyes and found the friendly look of the shop assistant, a quite aged man, with withe beard; the image of Santa Claus.
- ... but I can’t afford to spend too much money...
- OK –the shop assisten smiled- let’s see: how much money had you though of?
- Let’s say... one Euro?
He was ready to hear the shop assistent burst of laughing. But Santa Claus’ double was a true professional for sales.
- One Euro? Let’s see... With one Euro you can buy the best toy in the world for you child!
And the man gave him a little box with a palette knife in wood inside.
...
That night they could hardly sleep. The parents worried for the economy, the child dreaming with his expected toy.
In the morning, the child came into the parent’s room, dirty with clay, with his palette knife in one hand and a little dinosaur sculpted in clay in the other hand:
- That’s true, that’s true! –exclaimed the child. It is the best toy in the world!
- Do you believe? –asked the drowsy father. Why are you saying that?
- I made a dog, a plain, a house, a car and this dinosaur... and I am able to make whatever I can imagine! It is realy great!
- Great -say the father delighted. It seems really interesting.
- But the best is another thing –said the child.
- What thing? –asked the fater.
- The best thing is that if you fail in doing anything, you can always fix it, taking away or putting on a bit of clay and, finally, you always get what you want.
Dad and mum looked each other silently. Then, Daddy got up and hugged his son.
- Come on! You have to explain how to play with your toy. I mus to make something with your clay
- Really? What do you want to make, daddy?
- I am going to shape a futur. And I’m not going to stop until I get it.
And he did’t find it difficult. He had the best tool in the world: his determination.
With my best wishes for Christmas and for the New Year.
Ramiro J. Alvarez