Mentoring My Master

Life

BELIEVE THE UNBELIEVABLE

At the Sulky Plow Country Store and Restaurant, all the stuffed animals were placed neatly in baskets for everyone to see. There were elephants, lions, pigs, dinosaurs, cats, and, of course, puppies. There were many things for sale in the store, but the stuffed animals always received the most attention from the children. You had to walk by them on your way into the restaurant, so most of the children would ask their mom and dad if they could stop and play with them. They were usually told that after they ate their food they would stop and see all of the stuffed animals on their way out of the store. Despite the fact that they were toys, some kids thought they were real.

The adults would just laugh at the idea and say, You’re funny… stuffed animals aren’t real.

Some kids would take their favorite animal out of the basket and play with it for as long as they could before they had to leave.

Goodbye. See you next time, they would say as their parents held their hand to help guide them out of the Country Store.

At night, when the store closed and only a night light was left on, a strange thing would happen. Just like you and I have thoughts and dreams of fun things to do, it seems these stuffed animals do, too! When the light is dim, the customers and workers are gone, and it is very quiet, something magical happens. The animals open their eyes and begin to talk about all the children who held them and played with them during the day. They talk about their friends who were sold during the day and wonder what kind of new life they would have now that they were out of the baskets. Some of the animals, especially the dogs, even talk about the kind of child they hope will buy them. They promise they will be great playmates and friends.

Now, most people would tell you stuffed animals don’t talk - they are not alive—they are just toys. They can never be a child’s playmate and friend. Well, you are about to meet Bar Code 3464…Bar Code 3464 is a stuffed dog—a golden doodle, I think. What you must know, however, is Bar Code 3464 has a great amount of knowledge. He has been in one of the baskets for several years. He has met many people during his time in the basket and has learned many things just by listening to them talk. At night, after all the animals finished talking about the day’s activities, Bar Code 3464 would go to the bookrack and read about faraway places. He hoped someday someone would buy him, and he could share all of his knowledge with his new playmate and friend. How he hoped he would be bought soon. Other stuffed animals would tell him he probably would never get out of the basket, because he had been there for such a long time. Over the years his fur had gotten matted from so many children and grownups picking him up or moving him out of the way to get to a different animal. But Bar Code 3464 always knew that someday someone would buy him and take him to a new home. He would be out of the basket forever. In his new home, he could be alive and talk all the time, not just at night. He believed this day would come even though he had been in the basket for years. He never lost faith. He knew he would find a girl or boy who would want him more than anything else in the world. He just knew it!

Far from the stuffed animals at Sulky Plow Country Store, lived a young boy named Corey. Today Corey was very excited because tomorrow the family was going on a long trip. Corey’s parents planned to start a business in a different part of the country. The economy was going through a difficult time and Mom and Dad were finding it hard to make a decent living in Pennsylvania. They had saved enough money to travel to many different parts of the country in search of just the right place to start that business. They also wanted to find a great place for Corey to play and begin school. Corey had never traveled before, and this new adventure was very exciting to him. Corey was five years old…almost six. He loved eating ice cream and apples, but his favorite food was peanut butter spread on celery. He loved exploring and learning new things. He enjoyed climbing trees and collecting acorns in the fall from the big oak tree in the backyard. Corey’s favorite thing to do was to play with his stuffed animals. He was an only child, and sometimes Mom and Dad were too busy to play with him. Corey had a great imagination and gave each stuffed animal its own special name. Every stuffed animal in Corey’s room had its own place to sit, too. There were so many animals Corey was having a hard time deciding which one to take with him on the long trip. His mom thought if they all stayed together, they would probably be happier—better than splitting them up. After all, they were friends and playmates. Corey agreed so they put all of the stuffed animals into a big box. The moving truck would pick them up with all the furniture and other boxes the family had to move. Mom and Dad promised Corey that if they came across a really special stuffed animal while they were traveling, they would buy it for him. Corey did not believe there could ever be a more special animal, but he agreed with his parents. The Clark family went to sleep early that Sunday night. Early Monday morning they would get into the car and begin their new search and adventure.

I wonder what it will be like, thought Corey. I wonder where we will go and what we will see. I wonder if we ever will find a really special stuffed animal, like Mom and Dad think we will. I wonder if we do find one, if he really will be special. I really wonder.

It was Monday morning—finally it was here. Corey was full of energy and excitement. This was the day they all had been talking about for the past month. Today the family would leave on their long trip. Mom and Dad had both lost their jobs. Dad had worked in a local car factory in Mechanicsburg, and Corey’s mom was a second-grade teacher. They never thought they both would lose their jobs, but it happened. They both thought of starting a business of their own and finding a good school for Corey to begin his education. Corey was just excited about seeing new places—places like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. He had heard about these places before, in the books his mom would read him at bedtime, but now he would see them for real. That made him happy and excited. Mom and Dad packed the car last night, thought Corey. So we should be able to leave pretty soon. As Corey walked down the hallway to his parents’ room, he did not think of the house he was leaving. He only thought of all the new places he would see and all the new friends he would meet and play with. Here, in this neighborhood, there were no other children so Corey would play with his stuffed animals and his make believe friends. He hoped this would change and there would be many children to play with in the new neighborhood.

Corey could hear his parents talking as he entered their bedroom. That made him happy. They must be excited, too, he thought.

Dad had a big smile on his face when Corey came into the room. Are you ready to start our adventure, Son?"

Yes, Dad, I can’t wait. Will we see the Grand Canyon today?

No, Corey, the Grand Canyon is more than 2,000 miles away. It will take us two or three days to get there.

Two or three days? Corey exclaimed. Why that long?

Son, we are driving a car, not flying a plane. We’ll stop and see things on our way to the Canyon, and that will be a lot of fun. Besides, you can play with your stuffed animals while we are driving.

Corey’s dad had forgotten that all of Corey’s animals were packed in a big box. Dad, I don’t have my animals…did you forget?

I’m sorry, Son, I did forget. Hmmm I have a great idea, Corey. We will buy a new stuffed animal along the way. I remember we did promise you a very special one, and I will keep my promise.

Okay, Dad—can we go now?

In a few minutes—Mom wants to finish getting ready and say goodbye to the house.

Say goodbye to the house? Houses can’t talk and hear.

I know, Son, but Mom wants to walk through the rooms for the last time. It won’t take long.

Okay. Dad, I’m hungry, and we have nothing to eat - everything’s gone!

I know just the place we can go, and they have the best breakfast in the whole wide world.

Where is it?

You’ll see. It’s a surprise—your first surprise of our journey.

How many surprises will I get? asked Corey.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see, said Dad as he smiled while putting on his favorite shirt.

Mom announced she was ready to go. I’m excited, too, and very hungry. I can’t wait to see the Grand Canyon—I know it is beautiful and magical. Who’s first into the car? she said.

With that, Corey was on his way. Pamela turned to Bill and said, I will miss this place.

I know, he replied, But we’ll find another house to call home. Everything will work out just fine. I promise. Bill did not know just how he would make that happen.

As the family got into the car, they waved goodbye to their house and the neighborhood, even their favorite trees. We’re on our way, shouted Corey. When will we be there?

His mom and dad answered at the very same time, First we need to get breakfast.

Yeah, shouted Corey, I am starved.

Corey was sitting in the back seat with his seat harness securely fastened, looking out the window, humming his favorite song. In a loud voice, Dad announced, Here we are! This is the best place in the whole wide world for breakfast.

I want pancakes, said Corey, and orange juice.

That sounds good, said Mom as they walked toward the restaurant, I think I’ll have bacon and eggs.

As they approached the restaurant, Corey’s eyes grew big and wide. Wow! This is an awesome place. Look, Dad, at that checker game. It’s huge! Look at all the cool stuff on the walls. This is a fun place to have breakfast.

They opened the doors and went inside. It looked more like a store than a restaurant. Mom, Mom, look at the candy and toys. What kind of restaurant is this? Why are there clothes here? What’s going on? I think I’m going crazy!

Slow down, Corey, said Mom, The restaurant is in the back of the store. This part of the store is for buying fun stuff—gifts, games, and knickknacks. Let’s eat first, and then we can look at all this cool stuff.

Corey was very excited. There were so many things to look at. As they were entering the restaurant, he pulled hard on his mom’s arm and said, Look, look, Mom, look at all the stuffed animals. Can I go pick one out now, can I?

We promised we would look at everything after breakfast, Corey. Let’s eat first, Okay?

Okay, Mom, but let’s hurry.

After breakfast, as promised, the Clark family went into the Country Store. They saw rows of games, racks of clothes, boxes of various gifts, all kinds of candy, books, hats, everything. Corey went right over to a stack of baskets packed with stuffed animals. He knew his special stuffed animal would be in one of the baskets, but which one? He began pulling out the animals from several baskets in search of the new special stuffed animal.

Look, said Dad, here’s a raccoon.

Isn’t he cute? replied Mom.

Yeah, he’s cute, said Corey as he continued his search. As he pulled cats, pigs, monkeys, and even an elephant from the baskets, he put them on the floor. Then at the very bottom of a basket, he found a dog. The dog appeared to have a bent ear, a crooked tail, and matted fur, probably because he was on the bottom. All the other animals had been sitting on top of him. His appearance did not bother Corey. Look, Mom and Dad. Isn’t he great?

He’s so goofy looking. I think he’s adorable, said Mom.

Can we get him? Can we?

How do you know it’s a boy, Corey? It might be a girl.

Oh he’s a boy, Mom. He told me he was.

Wow, that is a special dog! said Corey’s father…a flopped ear, a crooked tail, matted hair, and he talks.

Come on, Dad. Mom thinks he’s cute, too. Don’t make fun of him.

That’s right, Bill, he is cute and Corey loves him. That’s all that matters. Maybe we should buy a book while we’re here, and the dog can read it to you while we’re driving to the Grand Canyon

Ha, ha, said Corey. I bet he could read if he wanted to. Mom, what should I name him?

I don’t know, but I’m sure you’ll come up with a special name for him.

Come on, guys. Let’s get going. We have a long drive ahead of us, and Corey, your dog is really cute. I was just joking with you. I am sure he’ll be the best-stuffed animal you ever had. Now let’s get going. We’ll buy some crackers and water and be on our way.

My first surprise was sure special. Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad. I know I’ll name him Rufus.

I bet he’s really happy to be out of that basket. Corey, Rufus is a great name for your dog. The name means ‘one with red hair’ and Rufus is definitely red.

Yup, and he’ll live with us from now on. He’ll see the Grand Canyon and learn new stuff and go everywhere we go. Right, Dad?

That’s right, Son. Maybe he can even help me find a job or start a business.

And maybe he can help us find a new home, replied Mom.

Here’s the car—everyone in, said Dad.

Mom, can you help me with Rufus? I want to put the seat harness on him so he’s safe, too.

Very good idea, Corey. Let me help you.

They drove the rest of the morning. Bill and Pamela were talking about things they wanted to do with Corey, but Bill really only wanted to talk about finding a job or starting a business.

Pamela reminded him it was important that Corey have fun while they looked for work.

I know, said Bill. I just wish I had a job, and you and Corey had a home in a nice neighborhood.

We will, Dear, said Pamela. "Everything will work out fine. It always does, you know. We just have to have faith. If we do the best we can, I believe good things