More Toy Shop Tales

The toy shop was due to have a spring clean. Every year Florence employed the same cleaning company to give her little shop a spruce up ready for spring and her new arrivals. On this occasion she had decided to take a short break whilst the work was in progress. A week-end trip to see some relatives. It meant of course that all the toys had to be stored in a safe place until the work had been completed. The problem was where !. After pondering the why’s and wherefore’s Florence came to the decision that the safest place would be her own living quarters above the shop. It took several trips up and down the stairs with arms full of her treasured toys,together with the help of the staff of the cleaning company. Finally they were all settled in their makeshift home. The dolls and teds were all lined up on the couch and arm chairs. All the boxed cars,tanks and engines were neatly stacked against the welsh dresser. The large dolls house that had been delivered only that week was positioned on the dining table. It seemed every one was safely installed when Florence paid a last visit before taking her leave. She locked up and made her way downstairs. As the sound of Florence’s footsteps echoed down the street, big Ted gave a yawn “I thought that girl was going to drop me he muttered.“What if she had” piped up little Ted,”You wouldn,t have broken anything,not like the dolls”. “I know” replied big Ted “but it wouldn,t have been very pleasant,” “I thought they were very careful” said the Fairy Doll,” My dress wasn,t ruffled at all” she looked down at her lovely gown, brushing it carefully. Terry the train hooted “Peeep” Peeep! “ We,ll soon be back on our shelves”. “Meantime” he said looking around the room,” It’s quite comfy here”. Suddenly the dolls house lights began to flash on and off. “ Oh do be quiet” it moaned. It was the first time the toys had heard the house speak. Big Ted glanced up. As he was the longest resident in the shop he always took it upon himself to be spokes person. “Hello” said big Ted, “and what do we call you”. “ I’m called Manderlay” the house answered,” who are you” Big Ted stood up and proceeded to relate to the house everyone’s name. When he had finished ,the house turned off it’s lights and drew it’s curtains. “Not a very exciting group are you” it muttered through a slowly closing front door. With this comment they all settled down for the night. Next morning the toys were awakened by the sound of the cleaners. Vacuums roared as shelves were cleaned and cobwebs removed, the smell or air freshner polish and disinfectant floated upstairs. “Oooh something smells nice” said Gordon the Gorilla. “What do you mean ‘nice’ “ yelled the dolls house. “ It’s a terrible smell” “ I think it’s nice too “ said little Ted “It smells lovely and fresh just like Spring.” “ Don’t talk rubbish” said the dolls house. “ It smells like..like..oh I don’t know,just horrible.” With that the dolls house shut all it’s windows, which it had opened earlier, and closed the