I slept in after my train trip with Hal. I can’t wait to be 89 like my mom’s cousin, Hal. He parties.
I couldn’t hear strangers talking.
After they finished desert, Mom woke me up.
I climbed on the table. Mr. Toucan flew over, and landed at my feet. Silly bird. He repeated every word everyone said in his high-pitched baby voice.
Suddenly everyone talked at once, including Mr. Toucan, flapping his wings as he talked. They talked in French. They talked in Portuguese. Everyone laughed. No one noticed me.
Mr. Toucan’s chicks dropped by, and started dancing on the table. Meow spoke Chinese to Mr. Toucan. He repeated every word. Everyone laughed. The chicks kept dancing. No one noticed me.
Weird stuffeds came to the table. They smelled like they just came out of a box. Anselmo took my picture with them. Their mouths moved and made noises. WOWEEE BLA BLA WHOAWEE! They sounded excited. I couldn’t understand their language, but I smiled. Anselmo and Vera laughed and laughed. The more they laughed, the more the WOWEEEs WOWEEEd. I felt like I ate too many hot dogs on the train.
Christmas dogs bounded to the table, their tongues dripping apple cider. They knocked over the apple cider as they landed on the table next to Hal. They sang Christmas carols. Big deal. No one noticed me. No one noticed monkey, either. He couldn’t talk. He didn’t move. He listened to the dogs sing.
I sat on Monkey’s legs. The dogs sang again. The room smelled like bananas. Maybe monkey had banana legs. Did I bust them open? The dogs didn’t miss a note as they sniffed the air.
The dogs quit singing. The banana smell went away.
Suddenly someone noticed me.
“Hal? Am I in trouble? I didn’t mean to sit on monkey’s legs.”
“it’s ok Manny. Monkey always smells like that. His legs are fine. You seemed sad. Are you ok?”
“Hal. I can’t do fancy tricks.”
“Manny, everyone has their own special talent. You blog. People all over the world love you. Let’s go get your blog and show people.”
Suddenly everyone noticed me. The dining room smelled like honey, the way a dining room should smell.
Manny's Adventures 
See Manny you are a ⭐ and an adventurer. I read your blog every time you publish a new post, Manny. Love Fanny ❤
Fanny, do you have a crush on me? I think you do. I think you are pretty. 🙂
Yes I’m bigger than you and if I sit on you I will have a crush on you Manny. F x
I think I will be the crushee! 🙂 Manny xxx
Manny, it’s okay to sit back and let others take all the limelight. Eventually they will fade away and you will still be wonderful. JB and I love you.
Awwww, Thanks Mrs. ET. I love you and JB, too. We talked about you at the table after Mom brought out the computer. Everyone loved JB. They loved his name, and they thought our stories were so cute. 🙂 I guess I shouldn’t have felt bad about those other stuffeds being so talented. JB and I just had fun together. I like that we both blog. 🙂
You are much cleverer than all those others.
Awwww, Mrs. ET. I didn’t feel very clever. I couldn’t speak Chinese or Spanish. I couldn’t dance or sing. You should have seen all of them. The people at the table loved them. But they loved me too. I had a good time. I am working on not being jealous. Do other stuffeds have that problem? 🙂
Well Justin Beaver certainly doesn’t have that problem because he already has a very high opinion of himself. (Don’t tell him I said that!!)
I think you are perfect just the way you are. How many people can speak bear language?
Oh, Mrs. ET, you can. It’s beary easy! 🙂 Just hug me. 🙂
I do miss my beary hugs!
You are a beary good hugger. Justin has taught you well, too! 🙂
Mrs ET would like you to go on Facebook please…
Yes Manny – We HEART YOU! 🙂
xoxo
xoxox I HEART you too! 🙂 Manny