Give and Take
"Okay, slow down there Chuckie," Chas said, reaching over and pulling on Boppo. Chuckie smiled, thinking his daddy wanted to play with the toy, only to frown when Chas handed the toy over to Tommy's daddy. Why was he doing that? His daddy said they had to go. It was getting close to his afternoon nap and then it would be supper time and they needed to go home if they wanted to have time to read a story!
"Looks like Chuckie really likes Boppo," Didi said with a smile.
"Another success for Pickles' Toys," Stu said, taking Boppo towards the stairs.
Chuckie's eyes went wide. No… that was his! What was Tommy's daddy doing?! He let go of his daddy's hand and raced over, grabbing onto Boppo's arm and tugging on it, trying to free him.
"Chuckie, it's time to go," his daddy said and Chuckie nodded; of course it was time to go and that meant they needed to take Boppo. "Chuckie," Chas said firmly, walking over and trying to steer Chuckie back towards the door. "You can play with Tommy's toy when you come over tomorrow."
The 2 year old looked at his father in surprise. What was he talking about… Boppo was his now! But Tommy's daddy was moving up the stairs now… didn't they understand?! Boppo was Chuckie's!
Chuckie let out an angry little snort and broke away from his father, rushing towards Boppo, moving to dive and grab him… only to miss and fall on the floor in a heap.
"Oh my!" Didi said, hurrying over and checking on Chuckie. But the two year old batted at her and moved towards the stairs again. "Chuckie!" Didi exclaimed, grabbing him before he could crawl up the first step. He howled in anger; Chuckie had never been so mad before! That was HIS TOY! HE! WANTED! BOPPO! "Heavens!"
"Well, I was afraid of this," Chas sighed. "I knew eventually we'd have to go through the Terrible Twos with Chuckie." He took him from Didi and held him in such a way that Chuckie couldn't hit him with his stubby hands. "Chuckie," he said kindly but firmly, "we are going home." Chuckie howled in protest and tried to squirm away. "Chuckie!" his father said with a bit more force, actually startling the boy into quieting down for a moment. "That toy is Tommy's. You can't just take it. Now we are going home and you are having a nap."
Chuckie shook his head though. It wasn't Tommy's toy! It was his! Tommy had said he could have it.
Well… he hadn't actually said he could have it but when Chuckie had asked for it Tommy had said he could have it.
Actually… he hadn't asked but instead said that Tommy was giving it to him. But Tommy…
…hadn't said yes at all. Chuckie had just taken it. And Tommy had looked so sad…
Chuckie burst into tears, Chas assuming it just another tantrum.