Title: Lost Creature

Author: graceland

Summary: Bobby Platt finds a teddy bear on the side of the road and the lost and forlorn creature sparks reminiscent memories in him.

Disclaimer: All rights belong to the author, Walker Hamilton, and whoever else owns these rights.

The teddy bear laid on its side like a forlorn creature left to die on the side of the road. Its fur was brown and matted from the wet grass and a clot of mad was smeared on its forehead like tribal marking. Its eyes were wide and black yet dull like the animals he had found on the pavement when they had been released of life. Bobby sniffled slightly and bent down to touch the fur of the lost teddy. Its large glass eyes stared up at him forlornly as he stroked its head for comfort. Poor lost teddy.

Bobby had never really had toys of his own. He found comfort in petting little squealing puppies and stroking the soft fur of mice instead of hugging cotton filled animals, which felt dead inside to him anyway.

But here was a teddy bear lost far away from his home, which struck a chord in his heart. He picked it up and held it to his chest sniffing the worn fur slightly, which smelled like dirt and synthetic fibers then propped it on his knee. It reminded him slightly of home.

Home was his mother. Her soft eyes gazing down upon him filled with love and stroking his hair back. Home was with Mr. Summers who was stern and gruff yet kind and had strong hands, which handled the bodies of decreased animals. Bobby sighed and straightened up holding the teddy tenderly in his hands. His pack was heavy on his back filled with the equipment he needed.

It had been many years since he last left Mr. Summer's and his home in the country. It at least it felt like it. Bobby squeezed the teddy for comfort. It had an only been a week since his old dog had died which had faithfully followed him to the end. He remembering touching its cold snout and crying and leaning on its body for warmth. The ground was cold and hard when buried the poor creature and the clouds cried for him shedding their tears upon him as he shoveled the last of the dirt.

So many memories. Bobby shook his head trying to relieve himself of his thoughts and straightened up. It was like the poor teddy had died in his arms out living it's like the little animals he found in the woods lying on the ground. Their lives spent. Bobby kissed its forehead softly for good luck in his next life and dug a small hole in the ground crossing its little cotton arms in remembrance.

"Good bye little one."

Dirt fell upon the small form first covering the body like a blanket then over the head. Bobby then patted the freshly turned dirt and placed a pale colored stone over the grave. It was just little burying all the little animals he found. He was just burying another part of himself in his heart.