Today we had some time after Sam’s flu shot and before going to a neat gymnastics class at CORE Academy in the West End.  Soooo we did some retail therapy by popping into Toys R Us by Regency Mall for a few minutes.  Sam promptly started to refer to the store as, “Toys Arrest.“  Of course, this take on the name had me cackling away like a Halloween witch, only nicer, I hope. 

Usually Sam’s misnomers end up having an uncanny amount of insight.  Not always, mind you, but usually they do.  So then I started in on one of my favorite past-times, musing to myself.  It went something like this— “Toys Arrest?  Hmmn… Does that sum up the place at all?“  Well, maybe it does, I thought to myself.  Could the store be a sort of jail for toys?  Perhaps it is from a toy’s point of view. 

This scenario reminded me of one of my all-time favorite children’s books called “Corduroy” by Don Freeman.  In that adorable story, a lovable bear named Corduroy languishes away in a department store.  He longs for a real home with someone who would truly loves him and take care of him despite his rumpled appearance.  *** SPOILER ALERT***  By the end of the story, a sweet little girl takes him home for her very own and even sews a new button on his overalls.

So, I guess you could consider Toys R Us to be “Toys Arrest,“ at least from the point of view of lonely toys like the forlorn Corduroy trapped inside longing for a happy home.

Alas, we did not free any toys from “toy jail” today, just bought some Halloween candy (which, by the way, is 50% off.)  Some days I purposefully try to not buy Sam anything, so he doesn’t take it for granted.  And today was one of those days. 

My apologies to those Corduroys we left behind toys under Toys Arrest (“not to be confused with “citizen’s arrest.“)  Like Arnold, we’ll be baaaaaack to liberate you at some point I’m sure, perhaps just in time for Christmas. Someone’s got to boost the economy and, more importantly, free the toys!

LibbY