A melodic laugh flowed up the stairs as seven year old Pandora helped her mom move a box. They had just moved into the house, looking for a fresh start after her father and mother split up. She didn't care much though, her father wasn't the nicest guy ever and this house had a swing in the back attached to a tree. She liked that the most.
With another laugh, the young girl ran up the stair way, into her room. Everything that already been unpacked except for her jackets. She let out a huff and grabbed the jackets herself before opening her closet. She hung each jacket up in the clumsy way that children had and thats when she noticed a stuffed that didn't belong to her. "Well hello there," She cooed, taking the bear up in her arms. She shook out the dust and smiled. "You're cute!"
With another laugh, the young girl ran up the stair way, into her room. Everything that already been unpacked except for her jackets. She let out a huff and grabbed the jackets herself before opening her closet. She hung each jacket up in the clumsy way that children had and thats when she noticed a stuffed that didn't belong to her. "Well hello there," She cooed, taking the bear up in her arms. She shook out the dust and smiled. "You're cute!"
Cody stared at the girl who had had just Picked up Doggy, he'd been trapped in the closet for so long. He'd gotten so tired and so lonely, he wanted her to play with him. "I'm Doggy" He reached out and touched her warm shoulder, his body was no longer visible, but he knew that she would listen. All he had to do was ask, that's what mother had said, 'people will always be nice to you if you are nice to them.'
Pandora flinched at the sudden coldness. "You talk?!" She squeeled, absolutely excited. "I'm Pandora," She quickly added, remembering her manners. "What were you doing in the closet?" She questioned, her eyebrows furrowed as she stared at the old, obviously once loved, bear curiously. The bear was almost in perfect condition from sitting in the closet for so long, only a bit of dust told it's age.
"Heehee, I like you Pandora" Doggy looked at the floor below him and sighed, he wanted to play hide and seek, but she would get mad at him for never being able to find him. Plus he didn't have the power to move on his own. "My daddy didn't want me, he said I was useless....I never liked him anyways." The child smiled, "Will you play with me?"
She hugged the bear tight. "My dad doesn't want me either. I'll play with you though!" Pandora replied, her excitement obvious. "But....my mommy told me not to talk to strangers. Maybe....I should ask her first," She added, suddenly unsure of what she was doing. "I wouldn't want Mommy to get mad at me."
"No" He found himself almost shouting. "Don't...I already met her...she's not a very nice person" He didn't want her to go to her mommy, she was evil, Doggy had decided that Pandora was the only person that would see him, "She wouldn't let me play with you....she'd send me away.." His voice became very weak as his throat became choked with tears, "Please don't let her send me away"
Pandora frowned and shook her head. "I'd never let her send you away! You're my friend. I'm sure its okay with her anyway if I get to have a new friend. She promised that I'd make some and here you are," She stated, all of her words ran together, making it seem like one, long, sentence.
Doggy giggled, she wasn't going to let that hateful women kill him again. "You're right...just don't tell her about me 'kay? Then we can play all we want" Cody rubbed the tears from his eyes and smiled at his new friend
"Okay!" She replied with a firm nod. "I'll keep you a secret! Then we can be best friends and play all the time. There's a swing out back we can play on first!" Pandora was practically yelling by now. Her eyes widened and she lowered her voice. "Oopsies," She said with a soft laugh..
"Okay" Doggy replied enthusiastically, "I used to play on that everyday" he giggled again remembering the feeling of trying to reach the sky. He'd reached it now, he felt as if he were flying...now that he was out of the closet.
"How long have you live here?" Pandora questioned as she started down the stairs, holding the bear tightly by the hand. Her face glowed with her excitement at this new friend and getting to play on the swing in the same day.
(Oh wow...out of the closet...ooops)
"I dunno..."Doggy swung back and forth with the girls momentum, "It feels like forever...cuz I was born here I don't know anywhere else" Cody gazed out the window wondering if it was even possible for him to leave the house. He hadn't been even able to move before Pandora.
(Lmao. wowww.)
"Well that's no fun. That means you've never been on any cool adventures!" Pandora said in an exasperated tone. She seemed almost in disbelief at this thought. She called out to her mom to say she'd be outside and then stomped out the back door. She stopped in front of the swing and smiled before climbing up on it, placing Doggy on her lap, and kicking her legs to get the swing going.
"Well that's no fun. That means you've never been on any cool adventures!" Pandora said in an exasperated tone. She seemed almost in disbelief at this thought. She called out to her mom to say she'd be outside and then stomped out the back door. She stopped in front of the swing and smiled before climbing up on it, placing Doggy on her lap, and kicking her legs to get the swing going.
Cody felt his power fade slightly. He was dragged back inside the doll when Pandora opened the door. He didn't care, now he laughed as his friend pushed them on the swing. He felt himself shift ever so slightly to the side and unable to right himself started sliding towards the ground, "I'm slipping" Doggy warned her glad he still had a voice.
Pandora let out a yelp and grabbed him. "I got you! Don't worry, I'd never let you fall. You're my friend!" She said in her jumble of words again. She balanced herself on the swing with her remaining hand, hugging him tight to her.
Doggy laughed nervously, he knew he wouldn't get hurt falling such a short distance, but it was nerve wracking all the same. "Don't worry Pany, I know you won't let me get hurt" He loved the warmth security he felt from her holding him tight though. It reminded him of being in a crib with the blankets wrapped around you.
(I'm going to sleep, byebye)
Pandora giggled at the nickname. She loved it and basked in her new friend's obvious affection. "You're right! Never ever ever would I let you get hurt. I'll always protect you," She said softly, stroking his fur lightly. "What do you want to do now?"
(Same here. Byee.)
(Same here. Byee.)
Doggy gazed at the house, the direction his head was facing. Behind it there was a well he'd never been allowed to play by, "Wanna play by the well?" he was eager to go see what was so amazing that he didn't deserve to see.
"Uh...I don't think Mommy would like that very much," Pandora replied in a sullen voice, shaking her head lightly. "I don't want to upset Mommy. She told me the well was dangerous," She added, remembering her mother's warning.
Doggy remembered his own mother telling him that now. It was just an excuse. "She just doesn't want you to have fun!" He shouted playfully, "Why would water be dangerous?" Cody would have pulled her over if he had the power...but he was still trapped inside Doggy.
"But....fine, I guess you're right! I take baths all the time. Water is fine," Pandora said, smiling now. She ran to the well, happy as she could possibly be. "What shall we do here?" She asked excitedly.
Doggy stared at the stone covering up the well, it was rather ugly..."How bout we move that? Then we can see what it's hiding!" He shouted excitedly. This was going to be a fun adventure, Cody had never been allowed out of the house except to go on the swing or go to school...it was no fair. Now with Pandora as such a good friend he could do anything!
"Okay. I have to put you down though." Pandora set the stuffed bear gently down on the ground and then walked over to the well. With a lot of huffing and puffing, she managed to push the stone off the top of the well. "There!"
Doggy laughed amazed, "Pany's so powerful! You could be a world wrestler!" Cody hadn't cared much for TV...but his mother always turned it on really loud...She didn't want to here him cry. He knew she hadn't liked wrestling...but when it got really bad he could here it booming in the other room. "Can I see it?"
"Of course!" Pandora grabbed the bear up in her arms and carried it over to the well. "We have to be careful though," She said in a somber tone. With a tight grip on Doggy, she hung him partially over the edge.
Doggy stared into the well amazed, "It's so deep...can I sit on the edge?" He itched to jump back and forth over it, daring it to swallow him up. He didn't know if she was willing to put him down but it would be best if she had her hands free incase something happened.
"Uhh....sure!" Pandora happily and carefully placed Doggy upon the edge of the well and then look over herself, admiring the neverending darkness she saw.
Doggy yelped when suddenly his body started moving, a giant creature had just landed on him! "Pany!" He felt his ear about to tear off, a cat was trying to kill him!
Pandora screamed and grabbed Doggy swatting the cat off. It fell into the well, landing with a sickening thud. Her eyes widened and she started screaming for her mother who in turn ran out. "What are you doing?! I told you to stay away from the well! What happe-Oh my god.....Jinx...." Her mother's word flew together like Pandora's often did. She was still sobbing, but her mother didn't seem to notice.
Doggy gazed silently down the well. That evil cat was dead. Cody knew full well what death meant. Afterall, he'd experienced it. He just hoped the cat stayed down there forever. Cody felt the bond holding him inside the stuffed bear weaken and smiled. He refused to speak untill the women was gone.
"You," Her mother hissed, turning to Pandora. "Stay away from the well. I will not tell you again. Now go to your room and stay up there until I figure out what to do with you." Pandora didn't need to be told twice, she ran to her room, sniffling the whole way.
"Pany? Are you okay? She didn't hurt you did she?" Cody, now sat on the little girls bed but still heard his voice come from Doggy. She'd called for the hated women and had been yelled at, it was like Doggy had warned, 'she's not a very nice person'. He was glad she was too busy with the evil cat to send him away.
Pandora shook her head, still sniffling. She wiped her eyes and then sat beside Doggy. "I just don't like being yelled at by Mommy and then Jinxy...." She started to cry again, remembering the dead cat.
"Don't worry Pany" He wasn't certain if he had a reason as to why she shouldn't worry, based on the fact that the evil cat had a name must mean it was once hers. He remembered his pet hampter was once named QT...he and his mom had would give it cheerios and watch as he ate them like donuts. "I'll take care of you, I'm your friend right?" There was clearly a smile in his voice as his certainty that their friendship could conquer anything shone through.
"Well yeah," Pandora said, still sulking. The cat was attacking Doggy. She had done what was necessary; she was just protecting her friend. She smiled at that thought. "I protected you!" She proudly announced.
Doggy giggled at the proudness in her voice, "We are eternally grateful" He quoted his favourite movie of all time. Toy Story2. "Hey Pany! It's like Toy story! I'm your toy that comes to life when no one is looking!"
"Except me, because I'm special. Mommy told me so," Pandora said, happy as she could be. She smiled and danced around her room, twirling like a ballerina.
Doggy grew silent when Pandora said it was her mommy who told her she's special, but he couldn't stay that way long. When Pany started spinning he couldn't help but giggle. "Pany is a fying saucer!" he shouted with joy at her spinning, "We can escape into space now!"
"Wouldn't that just be amazing if we could?!" Pandora asked excitedly. "Just amazing," She added as if an afterthought. She grabbed Doggy and danced around with him, sharing her joy.
Cody laughed trying to stay upright, "If doggy gets to spin so do I!" Strange considering it was coming from Doggy. He leapt up and tried to grab Pandoras hands, they simply slipped by.
Pandora was confused by this statement, but simply ignored it, as little kids often do. Ignorance is bliss at times. "I'm so glad you're my friend," She said, hugging Doggy tightly.
"Me too" Doggy replied, his head flopped to the side with no muscles to keep it straight. Cody sat against the wall smiling, he felt lonely because he could not hug Pandora. He remembered something his mom had told him about girls...'You must never get too close to girls Cody, and DEFINITLY never sleep in their beds. If you do that your balls will fall off. He looked down horrified at the memory. "You think there are any yummy snacks in the kitchen?"
"Yes! You must be hungry after being in that closet for so long!" Pandora exclaimed. She walked to the top of the stairs and listened, the tv was on which meant her mother was in the den. She tiptoed down the stairs, Doggy in her arms. Once she got to the kitchen, she began opening cabinets. "What do you want?"
Outside of her room Cody found he could not drift as far away from Doggy as he could before, but he didn't mind. "Any cookies?" he asked quietly to ensure her mother didn't hear.
"Oreos!" Pandora replied in a loud whisper. She grabbed the cookies from a high shelf by climbing on the cabinet and while she was up there, she grabbed a large cup. She jumped down and grabbed the milk from fridge and poured them a glass. "Do you lick and then dunk?" She questioned.
Doggy laughed, "I'm afraid those are all for you Pany, I can't eat anything in this body."
Pandora frowned and stomped her foot. "No! Get a new body then. I want you to eat too," She said in a whiny tone.
Cody pouted, there was nothing he could do about the body he was in now. "I'm trying Pany..I really am..but she put me here" Doggy spoke quietly
"Who did?" Pandora asked curiously. She had no idea who would be mean enough to trap her best friend in a body that couldn't eat.
Doggy felt his head move just a bit as he faced Pandora, "Mommy did" The head dropped as Cody lost his power over moving Doggys body.
Pandora grabbed Doggy up in her arms and gave him a tight squeeze. "Well she's not very nice!" The girl said, almost shouting in anger. She quickly shushed herself.
(only in his mind are they the same person)
Doggy remained silent. He was happy she agreed with him, but he wasn't certain if she realized the women downstairs was the same person. "You gunna eat your cookies?"
Pandora nodded and pulled one of the cookies apart, licking the cream off. She stuck the cookie back together and dunked it into the milk, smiling as she took a bite.
Doggy watched silently for a moment missing the taste of yummy food. "Where did you come from Pany? Before you came to my house you must have lived somewhere" he asked curiously
"Far, far away," Pandora said quietly, thinking. "We traveled forever to get here. I mean it, it was like forever," She added as an afterthought. "We used to live in a tiny apartment and now we have this whole big house!".
"But aren't you mad at mommy for taking your friends away?" Doggy asked confused at her excitement. This house was all he'd ever known outside of school and the size wasn't something he was amazed by.
