Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Not A Handbag As Such

Arthur and Federico enter the toyshop.

Bienvenidos, chicos! says the owner. 

Hola, senor, says Federico. 

Arthur has started looking for bears.

He picks up a normal one. Smallish.

Mi amigo is looking for the Sylvanian bears, says Federico.

Ciertamente, says the owner. 

He indicates a shelf of Sylvanian families, including the bears.

Federico and Arthur look at the bear family. 

Father, mother, brother, sister.

No bebé? asks Federico.

No bebé, says the owner. Separada.

He shows Federico a small packet containing a separate baby. 

It's not for me, says Federico. It's for him.

The owner shows it to Arthur.

Bebé, says the owner.

It might be too small, says Arthur. Does it come with a bonnet?

No bonnet, says the owner. Who is it for?

It's a replacement, says Federico.

Who has lost their bebé? asks the owner.

Arthur decides not to lie.

No one yet, says Arthur. But when they do, we'll need a replacement.

What a thoughtful young man, says the owner. Finding a replacement for a bear that is not even lost.

Thanks, says Arthur.

Is it for your little sister? asks the owner. Is she careless?

No, says Arthur. But someone might take it.

We would like to buy two of them, says Federico. Pity about the bonnet.

They do come with a handbag, says the owner.

What would a baby bear do with a handbag? asks Federico.

Arthur wonders the same.

I have never thought about it, says the owner. Perhaps it's not a handbag, as such.

What then? asks Federico.

For its baby things, says the owner.

Si, baby things, says Federico. Shall we have the two, Arthur?

Arthur looks undecided.

The owner would like to get rid of the babies, which do not sell well.

You can have two for the price of one, says the owner. 

Muchas gracias, says Federico. And how much is that?

Four euros, says the owner.

Federico pays the four euros with his credit card.

Muchas gracias, says Arthur, as he exits the shop with Federico, and the normal bear which he has forgotten he's holding.