In a quiet and humble home, there is a small kids' room. The room is warm and cozy with toys, books, and clothes. A colorful box shelves filled with toys sits near the window. A bookshelf filled with books stands against one wall, with a few books lying open on the floor, together with some toys . A small, white dresser with a mirror attached is visible in the background, with a few stuffed toys.
The room belongs to 5-year-old Samie. She stays at daycare for 4 hours a day while her Mama is working.
When no one is home, the room transforms magically, and all the things come to life. Toys, books, and little bags jumps on the cream carpeted floor, chatting and playing. The room brightens even more with happy little laughter and giggles from all the things, big and small, moving around inside the room.
Their usual days are mostly spent on playing or story sharing. Most of the toys, bags and books in the room has been brought to daycare, and they always have a story to share with others. All things they see, from their car ride to daycare, inside the daycare and on the way home, all are often joyfully shared with others in the room.
On one side of the room is a pair of small pink plush home slippers, Leti and Remi. They are a away from the group of busy playful books and toys.
Remi approaches her twin pair, Leti. She notices that Leti seems distant and don't mingle with others. "Leti, why do you look sad?" Remi asks. "Come on, let's play!. They have lots of stories to share about Samie's big new world."
Leti pouts and answers, " I don't want to hear those stories anymore." She then face on the wall to avoid seeing others.
Remi asks, "But why? You used to love listening about Samie's picnic or beach adventures when the beach toys shared them with us."
Leti answered, " Because we just always listen and never get to share our stories too. I wonder why we were never taken outside of the house,.like others."
Remi innocently replies, "Hmmnn, maybe because we're slippers."
"Ballet shoes brought outside every Wednesday. Bootsie goes out during winter as well. Even the other slippers like Flippy go outside every summer!." Leti is still sulking and feeling gloomy
Remi nicely said, " Yes, I understand. But maybe because we can't be on outside in summer or winter. We won't be of help to our girl Samie if she wears us. We wont be able to protect her feet when needed. We are here at home because this is where she needs us."
Remi continuously tries to cheer Leti's spirit saying, "Maybe because we're meant for home. This lovely and safe home, where the carpet is warm in winter and the curtains protect us comfortably during summer. Aren't you glad we are here? Samie often takes us to different parts around the house as well,, even at the backyard sometimes."
Leti starts to feel comforted, remembering all the memorable experiences they shared. "Yes, I.remember too. We even went inside her playhouse and shared the tent with her the backyard. We saw the sun and the moon. We heared her sing as well. We also played on her kiddie pool water sometimes. We jumped and ran together, too. I think you are right, we are okay with just staying here at home."
"Yes, like what our old book friend on the shelf said - You are exactly where you need to be, even if you think you aren't." Remi shared.
"Hmnnn, I never thought of it that way.Thank you for comforting me Remi." Leti then leans and put her head on Remi's head.
"You're welcome, you are my comfort too.Maybe you just miss Samie," Remi said while looking at the baby picture hanging on the wall.
"Yes, i miss her. She's been staying too long at daycare now." Leti finally admits her feelings. She just longed for Samie.
Remi playfully nudges Leti, saying, "Oh, my dear twinnie is missing Samie. It's okay, she'll be here soon. Let's just be happy she is growing up, seeing and learning new things."
Leti's face brigthend up, "That's true. She is such a nice girl. Maybe later, when we hear her stories, we can share them with our old book friends on the shelves, who didn't hear the story very well."
"That's a good idea," Remi affirms with excitement. "Are you okay now?, Do you want to play?." They both joined with their friends and play sliding and jumping until they got tired.
After a while, Samie and her Mama are back at home. The magical room returns to normal, and everything happily settles back into their place where Samie left them.
Samie immediately takes off her boots, still feeling cold, runs to her room to find her home slippers - Leti and Remi, "Mama, I found my fluffy slippy! She puts them on with her little voice singing - "Lefty Leti, Righty Remi". It's her childhood song that her Mama taught her to guide and properly put on shoes and slippers when she was younger. She did it so easily now and when she's done , she whispered, " ohhh you're so soft, warm, and pink. I really really love both of you!"
Leti and Remi secretly smile at each other. They are so delighted to be with their little girl, Samie. Then, they eagerly listen as she shares her new daycare experiences while her Mama is preparing dinner in the kitchen. The home is again filled with magic, the magic of love that binds Samie and her Mama.
I dedicate this short story to my older sister, a hardworking single mother and to my youngest niece. _For Ate Ning and Sam_
