Stuffed Toys Do Talk

My little niece is a tad scared of the man. She doesn't know what to do with him, and he doesn't quite know what to do with her. She's especially intrigued by his guitars, associating all guitars with him. Quite apt, I suppose. Heh. She's a little fearful of the guitars (they're taller than her), yet wants to touch them, but not quite liking the twang of the electric. So each time she sees the man, she mumbles a "Hello Uncle Man" and runs away to hide. Oof.

She knows my bears and the man's cows. She's made friends with every one. Each time she visits, she grabs a bear to sit with her and talks to it. Lucky bear. She rarely picks a cow though. I'm not surprised! This time, she waited till the man's away, asked to visit, merrily stepped into my room. She had this little sad look when she saw my suitcase. She always sees me and the suitcase, and then she doesn't see me for a couple of weeks. I didn't think she bothered, except the man's parents tell me she keeps looking out for me each time she visits.

We're not that close. The man's her uncle, and I'm just his partner. I don't see her mother that often, but the little girl somehow likes to wander over to me. Assured her that I just got home, and was unpacking and wouldn't be going anywhere just yet. She grinned, sidled closer to the bed and jumped onto it. Like, first time ever. Made herself totally comfortable on the bed and talked to the stuffed toys at length, paying particular attention to the cows, while I ermm...provided their answers to her questions.