Gemotions

The afternoon sun was scorching, and Clara was already bored. Her aunt wanted her to “find something interesting” at the yard sale. She scoffed at the suggestion. Interesting was the last thing she needed. She stopped in front of a table, her gaze landing on a familiar face. It was her teddy bear, Bartholomew, missing an ear. He sat amongst a pile of gaudy ceramic figurines. She felt a surprising jolt of… something. Annoyance, maybe.

She addressed the elderly woman running the sale. “How much?” she demanded, her voice sharp.

The woman smiled, revealing a gap-toothed grin. "Fifty cents."

Clara dropped a dollar on the table. "I don't need change," she said, her tone dismissive. She plucked Bartholomew from the table and marched off, the bear clutched tightly in her hand.