Chapter 10: Little One

Tigger

I waited for her to return. I waited through the rest of the winter and on into spring-time. It was the day marking the anniversary of our marriage that I grew particularly gloomy. I sat at my table at home, twirling my ring on the table. My tail was lying on the floor and a frown was on my face. I was in no mood for playing or bouncing. Without Tigretta... my life had lost much of its meaning.

I was startled, then, by the door bursting open and Rhoda coming in. She looked hurried and anxious. I stood up and looked at her. "Is she...?" I asked.

"Yes, Tigger, Tigretta's back," replied Rhoda with a smile. "Come on, I'll take you to her."

Rhoda led me to the front yard of the girls' house. Everyone was gathered there and Tigretta was looming over a cauldron. The cauldron was bubbling with something, the steam rose high into the air. I was confused by all of this, but Tigretta noticed me approach and smiled at me. "Tigger! I'm glad you're here! Come, I have to show you this," said Tigretta.

"What is all of this?" I asked. I was especially confused since Christopher Robin was there. It was a rare thing for him to even come to the woods anymore... at least it felt like it to me. Tiggers aren't good at judging time.

Tigretta smiled wider and replied, "I had to go away to get the supplies needed for this procedure. Then, I had to wait until Spring since it wouldn't have worked otherwise. I would have told you sooner, but I didn't want you to worry. Then again, you probably already were worried, weren't you?" She paused and looked into my eyes a moment before continuing. "Well, it doesn't matter now. Come here, I'll explain."

Tigretta led me to a spot right in front of the cauldron. It didn't smell like anything, so I assumed it was just boiling water. Tigretta sat next to me on a bench. It was high enough that we could see into it.

"Now, Tigger, I have already thought this through, but now I'm going to discuss it with you. You see, Tigger, we are creatures of cloth and stuffing. We aren't supposed to live. We aren't supposed to breathe, bleed, make noise or move at all. We are meant to lie around and do nothing all day, but there come times when the laws of nature change.

"Christopher Robin... Christina Jay... every child is given the gift of imagination. Depending on the child, some can make worlds and creatures come to life that may never have once been before. Other children make friends out of familiar things," Tigretta looked at Christopher Robin as she said this, then continued. "Then there are some who are capable of so much more than anything we can ever imagine.

"The reason why I went away to get some things and assembled everyone here is for that greater purpose. If you would be willing, Christopher Robin has granted us permission to have a child of our own. This can happen only if the both of us want it... so... do you?" Tigretta looked at me and I smiled.

"A child of our own? You mean... there would be another one like Roo for us to play with?" I asked.

"Yes, Tigger. It would definitely mean another playmate, but it would also mean another character, one that could live in this world. It could grow or stay young or whatever we decide," said Tigretta.

"Where do we start?" I asked.

"So, that's a 'yes' then?"

"Yes, Tigretta, of course I want a child."

"Very well. I'll go first." Tigretta pulled out a knife and cut her hand until it bled. She held her hand over the cauldron and let the blood drop in. When she thought it was enough she pulled back and wrapped her hand in a bandage Rhoda provided for her. "Now, your turn."

"Do I have to?"

"Both of us must contribute, otherwise it won't really be both of ours." Tigretta gently grabbed my hand and I let her take it. She cut it and it stung, but knowing what it was going toward blurred the pain. She held my hand over the cauldron and let the blood go in. I was given a bandage as well.

"Okay, now what?" I asked.

"Now comes the best part: adding the vessel. Would you like to see him?" Tigretta asked.

"Him?"

"I hope you don't mind, but I thought a boy would be fitting... besides, look." Tigretta had pulled a basket from off of the ground and opened it. Inside was a small tigger.

"Aw, look at the little guy. He looks just like me." Tigretta took the basket and gingerly placed it into the cauldron. It floated on the surface, so we could still see it.

"Don't worry, he'll be safe for the moment," said Tigretta. She then came back onto the bench with me and held my hand. "Now comes the most important part, Tigger. Without imagination, he won't live. So, let's start by giving him a name. What do you want to call him?"

I barely had to think about it. "Junior. Tigger Jr."

Tigretta smiled. "All right, then. Christopher Robin, if you will please do the honors?"

"Okay, Tigretta, Tigger, what you need to do is close your eyes and picture your child coming to life. Then, you have to say, 'I wish' three times. If you both really mean it, it will come true," said Christopher Robin.

Tigretta took a deep breath and asked, "Are you ready?"

"Always," I replied. She and I both closed our eyes. In my mind's eye, I saw my little boy and I playing together. I saw myself teaching him how to bounce. I saw him playing with Roo. I saw him even surpassing me in bouncing skill. I smiled.

Tigretta and I both said, "I wish, I wish, I wish."

A miracle happened then. A loud crying was heard and my eyes shot open. Tigretta was already on the scene, grabbing the basket and pulling out the little guy. She held him close and its crying soon stopped. I went over to Tigretta and looked over her shoulder at our son. His eyes opened and they were big and bright, just like his mother's.

"He's perfect," said Tigretta.

"He sure is, Tigretta," I said.

Everything I saw in my mind's eye that day came true later on. Little Junior had the determination that was inside of both me and Tigretta. His eyes always shone brightly with love, energy, and life. Admittedly, there were times when he got into trouble... mostly due to me... but he was a good kid. There was nothing more I could ask for.

Narrator

And so, Tigger was, for the first time in his life, not the only one. He had found new purpose in having a family of his own kind. His friends and Tigretta's friends soon followed after the example they set. Even when Christopher Robin no longer came to the woods, another came in his stead that helped the creatures live on. The moral of the story is: keep an open mind and never lose your sense of imagination.

Even as this story ends, Tigger and his family live on in our imaginations and in our hearts. Once created, unless destroyed, they shall always live. I think that it is highly unlikely for their story to disappear. So, in that enchanted place called the Hundred Acre Woods, they shall all be waiting.

The End...?

I didn't do the question mark at the end to imply a sequel. I did it since the story's characters live on, so there's not an end really. I did like this story fairly well, I'll admit that. I also think this is a different take on the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Woods. Are they living or fluff? In our minds, they live. Anyway, I hope you guys liked it, because this is the end... no seriously, it is.

I would like to give a shout-out to my one reviewer, favorite-r person, ficklepickle7. Thanks so much for reading and actively commenting on the story, that was really awesome of you :D Also, thanks to any other readers out there and thanks to the most important person of all: you. Again, I hope you guys enjoyed this. Leave a review, if you wish ;)

P.S. Since you guys finished this one, check out my other stories. I have a pretty decent amount thus far. I am also fairly open to what I write about, so there may be more variety in the future. If anyone out there would like a beta for their stories, I am a beta, so check out my beta profile to see if I'm the right one for you. Thanks again for reading, laterz ;)