The Power of (Toy) Stories

Several months ago—maybe even a year—Simon received a gift of a fire truck. It may have been valuable, as it is an older toy and was still in mint-in-the-box condition. Simon asks to play with it every time he finds it, and we’ve always said, “Not today.” But yesterday we watched Toy Story and Toy Story 2, and this morning when Simon brought the truck out from its sort-of hiding place, I couldn’t help but think of Buzz reminding Woody that (for a toy) “life’s only worth living if you’re being loved by a child.” So I caved. And because it’s just the kind of sap I am, I actually got a little teary while I was looking for a screwdriver to unfasten the truck from its box so it could be set free to be loved by Simon.

I hadn’t really realized that the truck was probably a bit too intricate for a two-year-old, and in less than two minutes, Simon broke the truck.

And when I explained to Jason how I had been persuaded by Toy Story to open the box, he reminded me that Simon has plenty of toys to love and neglect as he will. Take poor Rody, for example, muzzled and abandoned:

In hindsight, maybe I let my emotions get the best of me. Perhaps I should have let the truck stay in mint condition and watch Simon from his box, never to be loved. How will we pay for Simon’s college education now?