Mister Barnaby
Dawn woke with a start, roused from sleep by the scream that had just echoed through the Summers house. It was Buffy's voice. It wasn't like her sister to scream in terror, though. The little girl got out of bed and hesitantly headed toward Buffy's room. But she quickly realized that their mother had beaten her to it and had just joined the young girl standing, looking haggard, outside her window.
«Buffy, what happened ?» Joyce asked in an alarmed voice.
«Uh, nothing...» Buffy replied in a troubled tone. «I saw a shadow.»
After reassuring her mother as best she could and convincing her to leave her alone, the young girl sat up on her bed, still dazed by what she had just experienced. She was struggling to gather her wandering spirits when a quiet scratching at her door interrupted her.
«Yes?»
When the door opened a crack to reveal her sister's presence, Buffy frowned. She really wasn't in the mood for a late-night conversation with a little girl.
«What do you want, Dawn ?» she asked in a weary voice that, while not hostile, wasn't particularly encouraging.
«I'm not here to bother you,» Dawn hastened to affirm. «Since you were having trouble sleeping, I brought you Mister Barnaby.
– Mister Barnaby ?»
The little girl suddenly held out a sizable teddy bear.
«This teddy bear reminds me of something...» Buffy observed curiously.
«You gave it to me, Dawn clarified. Don't you remember it ? You won it for me at a fair two or three years ago: you hit every target, right at the center, with the dart gun ! It was so cool !
– I remember now ! Buffy said with a fond smile. It was the jackpot. You loved it at first sight, so I did everything I could to win it for you. The guy from the fair couldn't believe his eyes ! I was surprised myself that I had aimed so well. Above all, I was happy to have pleased you.
– I was overjoyed ! Dawn agreed. I've kept it ever since. Maybe I'm getting a little old for it… but when I'm feeling sad and I take it to sleep, it helps me feel better. So I thought…»
She tentatively handed the teddy bear to her sister, and Buffy accepted it gladly.
«That's adorable, bug, she said, tenderly ruffling the little girl's hair. Thank you! I'm sure Mister Barnaby will help me sleep. Now go back to bed quickly!»
Dawn nodded and left her big sis with the teddy bear. The young girl placed the friendly plantigrade next to her on her bed and sighed.
«I don't know what to do, Mister Barnaby. The boy I was kissing in my room turned out to be a vampire. What do you think ?»
She looked deep into the bear's gaze, and he stared back unblinkingly with his two buttons for eyes, but remained silent.
«You're confused too, aren't you ? Well, thanks anyway... Good night, Mister Barnaby.»