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Young World
Mini and the toy cupboard
URVASHI S.
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The only toys that Mini wanted to give away was the old toy train and the discoloured cloth doll!
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Mini walked into her room to find her mother putting toys into a bag. “What are you doing, mummy?” asked Mini. Sarah, turned to her daughter with a smile and replied, “The ladies from the orphanage down the street had come today to ask if we could spare a few clothes, toys, or books for the children there; so I was just packing a few of your toys for them.”
Mini gasped in horror as she looked at things lying on the bed. “You can’t give these things away, mummy!” squealed Mini. “Why not, Mini?” Mini looked at her mother sulkily and replied, “These are my toys, mummy. I don’t want to give them away.”
“All right Mini, you can keep these things if you want them so much; but I want you to go through your toys and bring me something that I can take to the orphanage.”
The shelves were filled with dolls and teddies and other stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes. Mini peered down on the last shelf where she saw the toy train set that Grandpa had given her. The brass train set, which was once bright and shiny, was now rusted and black due to neglect. “This dirty thing is of no use!” thought Mini, and she pulled it out. A doll that had been lying in a corner near the box fell out. The cloth doll, which had once been pretty with her bright red dress and long, silky black hair, now looked a sorrowful sight. “Who would want to play with her anymore?” thought Mini.
Mini took the toys to her mother: “Here mummy. You can give these.” A week later, the orphanage organised a programme to thank everyone for their donations. Reluctantly, Mini accompanied her mother. It was the first time that Mini was visiting the orphanage; and she was quite startled when she entered. There were so many children! And they didn’t have parents to care for them.
Huddled in a corner of the room were a group of girls around Mini’s age, who seemed to be having a delightful time as they played. Mini saw something which made her gasp. The cause of all those peals of laughter and merriment were two very ordinary toys: her toys! Only, they weren’t ordinary anymore: the girls had polished the train set and re-painted the red bits, and it now gleamed and sparkled. The ‘J’ on the engine shone proudly; and the wheels had been oiled, so they moved without the tiniest squeak. The girls had filled the wagons with tiny toy animals. As the girls moved the engine, the wagons followed. Occasionally, an animal or two would fall off the wagon and the girls would laugh with delight as they carefully placed the animal back.
Mini’s eyes scanned the area. The girls had created a miniature station using old cardboard boxes. In the middle of the station stood the ‘stationmaster’, who was none other than Mini’s old cloth doll! Her tattered dress was now covered with colourful cloth patches; two black buttons had been sewn on for the eyes; and black wool had been stitched on to her head and tied into two long plaits. The girls had also put a tiny cap over the doll’s head to make her look more like a stationmaster. The doll looked lovely.
“Are you surprised Mini that these toys which you considered old and useless have made these children so happy?” Mini turned to see her mother standing there. Mini felt ashamed. She had been silly and selfish. She had so many beautiful toys, and yet she hadn’t cared much for them. “I’m sorry for being so selfish, mummy. Can we go home now? I have lots of toys and books that I want to share.”
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