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Tasha Ray awoke one morning to the faint sound of her kitten purring as it rested lazily by her head. “Good morning Charlotte,” Tasha Ray replied to the cat as she rubbed her eyes wishing she was more alert. Tasha fought the tiredness, got up to look out the window, and checked to see what the weather was like outside. “Today looks perfect. Exactly what I was wishing for,” she nodded her head at the delightful weather, speaking to no one in particular. Then turned and gazed dreamily at the somewhat tattered stuffed bear lying on her bed faultlessly where she had left it the night before. This time it was laying still. If she hadn’t learned Brandy’s secret, Tasha Ray would have seen this otherwise insignificant. During the day, Brandy was like any other stuffed animal. She sat on Tasha’s bed without blinking as if she was mesmerized by the ceiling. But at night, she came to life. Tasha Ray, however, learned this the hard way. And it all started on a day just like today…
Tasha Ray had been awoken by her step dad’s alarm clock early that morning. He was the janitor at the rich, private high school up the street, which meant long, early hours. Tasha had managed to look above her head at the glowing red light to see what the time was. 5:15.
She had tried to go back to sleep, but it seemed almost impossible. Why couldn’t she rest? It was the summer, so it’s not like Tasha had any pressure about getting to bed on time. It had been almost an hour, and she had finally decided to get up and watch TV. Then Tasha Ray remembered, “Of course I can’t go to sleep! I don’t have Brandy!” To Tasha Ray, Brandy was the tiny blanket filled with holes that most of us had when we were infants that we just can’t seem to let go of.
She peeled the covers off her body and hopped out of bed, went to the top of her closet where she had kept all of the things that either meant a lot to her, or stuff that she hadn’t used in over two years. Rummaging through the old yearbooks, purses, and winter clothes that no longer fit, in the very back corner is where Tasha Ray found the beloved stuffed animal. She stared for a second at its matted fur and missing eye, then grabbed it by the ear and tucked Brandy tightly under her left arm.
Lately Tasha Ray had been forgetting about Brandy. With her hectic schedule, and social needs, as soon as Tasha could get in the bed she would fall asleep in seconds. Her mother was the one to put Brandy at the top of the closet, and Tasha Ray couldn’t remember the last time she even thought about the bear.
Holding Brandy tightly, Tasha Ray slipped under the covers again wishing for restful sleep. But something wasn’t right. Was her heart just pounding fast or was there something moving in the bed?! No, she was just tired… right? Tasha Ray realized she wasn’t thinking straight anymore and started to doze off. Tasha was almost asleep, but then she saw a moving shadow on the wall! Startled, she flung the covers off herself and sat up in bed. This wasn’t a figment of her imagination anymore. This was real. Tasha could feel it.
Cautiously, she lowered her foot to the floor. Then the other foot was planted firmly on the ground. She stood; looking brave and confident, but on the inside she was terrified. Making sure she didn’t step on any of the creaky hardwood panels, she made her way to the other side of the room slowly.