Childhood

The fun things

I watch as Dad passes my passport to the woman at the desk. She looks at us, smiles, the wishes us a good day. Mama takes my hand and leads me away.
Dad wants to wander the airport for a bit. I'm okay with that, even though I desperately want to check out the new house.

Dad swerves around people and displays, making Mama and I run to catch up to him. All of a sudden, Dad stops abruptly, causing Mama and I to slam into his back.

"Look!" He points. There, following his finger, are some little various trinkets lining shelves.

"We have to go in!" Dad grins. I comply, walking cautiously behind him. Dad starts examining the various miscellaneous objects lining the walls. My parents pick up one or two items before setting them back down.
Nothing I saw really interests me. It's all cheap. Mama holds a small Japanese fan, while dad grips a tiny pot. They are both staring at me. They expect me to take something.

I continue to browse. Jars, dolls, food..

I stop.
There. In front of me, lies a box. I pick it up. The paper texture glides over my fingers. I stare at the flower pattern. Turning the box over and over in my hands, I look up at Dad and Mama.

"This." I grin. Mama smiles back.

"So be it! Come on, Anya. Let's go pay!"

I trot next to Mama as she places the objects on the counter. She says something in Japanese to the woman working there, and she beams at us. The woman replies back. I bet she's just asking about rewards or something.

Mama takes my hand and leads me outside when we are all done. Dad looks at me. "Anya, are you positive you don't want any toys? You sold all of your old ones back in Russia, are you absolutely certain?" Dad says putting emphasis on 'absolutely'.

"Positive." I say. Dad scrunched his eyebrows together.

"Anya, I'm not taking no for an answer. We're buying you at least one thing."

"Dad! I told you, I don't want anything!" But before I knew it, dad had disappeared into the next store and was browsing the toys.
I sighed. He just doesn't listen...

"Come Anya! Pick!" Dad beckons me forward, holding up different plush toys. I try to look excited, but I don't think it is working. I glance around.

Toys seem childish. Back in Russia, I was bullied sometimes for my different taste in toys. That's why I don't play with them now. All the other girls liked stuffed toys. I liked dolls. Barbie dolls, to be specific.
It didn't look like there were any Barbie dolls here...
But thinking about it, there are no kids to tell me what I can and can not play with.

My gaze rested on a small box on the far left shelf. I walked towards it. In the box, rested a pretty doll. She had short brown hair, just like me! Pale skin and big blue eyes. Her lips were painted red with a hint of glitter, and a blue ball gown hung on her hips. I picked the doll up and studied her.

I turn to Dad and wave my arm. Dad walks over, studying the package clutched to my chest.

"This?" He asked.

"This." I responded.
Dad walked over to the cashier and promptly payed the money. He handed me back the box.

"See, Anya? You have to enjoy the little things in life. The fun things." Dad bent down to give me a hug. I returned it, kissing his cheek. Dad smiled.

"Let's go find Mama, okay?"