Pick Me    by Al Geist

August 17th baby Tim was born. Soon thereafter he came home to his new world.
Being their first child, his parents had created a beautiful nursery
complete with wallpaper, toys, and furniture. Tim was oblivious to his 
new surroundings. All he cared about was that mother was nearby with a
soft hug, warm milk, and a song to sing him to sleep.

The other occupants of Tim's room knew that the competition was just beginning.
Each knew that Tim would eventually select one special toy to be his favorite
and that this friend would be his loving companion for years to come.
Only the lose or disintegration of the friend would break the bond
that would form. Each occupant wanted to be that one special friend.

There was Andy, whose raggedy red hair and blue overalls made him stand out
among the toys.
There was Bear, an impulse gift purchased by "grandma". He was brown with shiny
black eyes. He had very soft fur that made him fun to touch and hold.
Blue Blanket felt he had a chance at winning the competition.
He was soft and warm, and he was wrapped around Tim each night.
Snowman, the littlest toy, was not colorful or loud but his white round body
was fun to squeeze. He had two coal black, painted-on eyes and a floppy
top hat.

"Hey your blocking my view!" Andy said to Bear.
"Ah, there isn't that much to see," Bear replied, "Tim's just sleeping."
Bear pushed back slightly and crowded Andy a little more in the corner
of the crib. "Stop that!" Andy cried.
"Stop what?" Bear asked in his most innocent voice.
"Stop pushing me away from Tim."
"You two keep it down." said Blanket in a hushed tone. "You are going to wake Tim."
"What about it?" said Bear. "If Tim wakes up, then he can play with me.
He won't need an old blanket like you when he is awake."
"I am not an old blanket! I am brand new. You are just jealous because Tim 
spends so much time with me. That's because only I can keep him warm at night."
Andy peeked around Bear and chimed in, "You are just a old rag. You are nothing
to look at. Tim needs something colorful to look at. Something that looks like
him. Me for instance."
"Old rag? Look whose talking. You are little more than a shirt pocket with a
dirty handkerchief stuffed in it. Nothing to look at? You need to have your
button eyes checked!"
"Why you..." Andy tried to reach Blanket. Bear moved out of the way.
He figured if those two rip each other to shreds that would just leave him.
Well him and that little snowman, but that was no competition.
Snowman never spoke, no one knew if he even could. He just sat by himself
in a corner just smiling, looking over the activity of the crib.
Bear felt uncomfortable as he eyed Snowman. There was something about that
little ball of white that bothered him. Bear thought about it.
It's his arrogance, Bear thought. He just thinks he is so much better than 
the rest of us. Above us. If I can get someone to put me over in the corner
with him, I'll show who is superior. Just then Tim began to stir.
Andy and Blanket stopped fighting. Bear sat up straight. Everyone tried to
make themselves look desirable.

The little hand reached out and pulled Snowman to his mouth.
Snowman's tiny heart bubbled over with love.
Tim sucked on Snowman's "All New Materials" tag while staring at
those two black eyes. Snowman silently smiled back.