When our boys were five years, 16 months, and four months old, the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast was released. The local theater after many weeks had a half-price matinee showings during the day. Several of my friends and I gathered our wee ones and took them for an outing. Our middle son was absolutely mesmerized by Belle. This fascination was implanted more deeply when he was given a Belle toy as we were leaving the theater. He carried Belle everywhere he went for months. In fact, he informed us that he was going to marry Belle. When he moved on to his next favorite thing, I tucked Belle away in his box of memories.
Seeing this small, cheaply made toy brings back such joyful memories to me. That red-headed tyke is now 27 years-old, a man of such immense compassion it overwhelms me sometimes.
Love your narrative! My 30 year old son had similar feelings about the character Ariel in The Little Mermaid movie. He had an Ariel doll at the time which is now packed away with some of his other cherished childhood toys. :-)
