"Mom, I want that!"
"No, Honey. You'll only break it. Remember what happened to the porcelain dolls Grandma gave you?"
"I'll take really good care of it! I'll make sure I don't break it."
"No."
Chihiro looked longingly at the stone river spirit in the store window. She found it unfair that her mother bought some frivolous things, yet she wasn't allowed one thing.
Her mother had wanted to check out the stores in their new town. She had met some of the other mothers, but Chihiro would not go near their children.
"I thought you might have a little fun if you came." She had said. "You might find something you like."
She sure had found something. The only thing was that she wasn't going to get it.
The storekeeper reserved the statue for her. She hadn't changed in the month that had past. Her experience had been frightening. Yet she still remembered it where most children would blot it out.
Chihiro started to save up all the money she could to buy it. Every few days she would walk by the store to make sure it was still there. At last, she got her jar of money and put it on the counter in front of the owner. "I'd like to by that statue."
"How much do you have there?" His eyes were soft and smiled.
"27.23."
"Well, you can get the statue for 14.23. If you want some paints to paint it with it will come to 16.84."
"I'll take it." She pulled out the money and he brought over the statue.
"This statue has been sitting there for a good year or so."
"Really?"
"It was as if it was waiting for the right person. It looks just like him. It's almost like he came to get you."
"Yep . . . wait –"
The owner cut her off. "There's an ice cream shop down the street."
"Thank you, Sir." It was better not to ask. She walked out and it dawned on her. Duh. He works or worked for Ubaba.
"There, all done." Chihiro had spent a good portion of the day painstakingly painting the statue down to the finest detail. She started with a base coat then painted all of it white. Finally, she took and painted every last detail, careful to not make any mistakes.
She marveled at her work. "It looks just like him. She placed it on a shelf in the middle of stuffed animals to make sure it was cushioned. "I'll never forget him, even without the statue."
