Thank You, Mr Small

Let’s think back to when I was just a baby. At this time, Lady Penelope, my mummy, was watching me crawl along the grass in the park.

“You can do it, little one,” she smiled proudly, clapping her hands gently as I crawled around, giggling.

Then she heard Parker calling her. “It’s time, milady!” She knew she had some errands to run, but she was very happy she saw Mr Happy playing with Mr Small and Little Miss Tiny near the basketball court.

She asked the three Mr Men to take care of me when she had some errands to run. It was now their duty to teach me how to take my first steps.

Mr Small and Little Miss Tiny followed me as I crawled along the grass, but Little Miss Tiny struggled to keep up until Mr Happy took her in the palm of his hand and let her follow me from a distance.

And then, something truly remarkable happened. Can you guess what it is? If you can, then it won’t be much of a story, won’t it? Okay, here we go…

I suddenly stood up on my fingers and toes and started crawling like a weird creature. Mr Small’s jaw dropped to the floor, but Little Miss Tiny and Mr Happy looked at each other and cheered. “Hooray!” squeaked Little Miss Tiny, “She’s learning to walk!”

“Her bones are getting stronger,” examined Mr Happy, “And so it must be for the bones and muscles inside her fingers and toes. That’s why she’s walking so funny.” Mr Small started to giggle. “She’s walking like an elephant!” he laughed in a squeaky way.

But then, I approached the park bench. Mr Small stopped laughing and looked on curiously. Mr Happy held his breath. Little Miss Tiny almost started biting her fingernails.

I grabbed hold of the arm of the park bench. Mr Small gasped, and ran to Mr Happy for safety. “What’s happening to her?” wailed Mr Small. “A miracle,” smiled Mr Happy.

And that miracle started almost as instantly as Mr Happy thought it would be. I took hold of the arm of the bench, lifted myself up onto my feet…

…and then, for the first time ever, my legs felt strong enough to walk! Mr Happy looked on proudly, and Mr Small and Little Miss Tiny cheered and jumped up and down in delight.

But where would I walk to? That’s the question. I wish my mummy were here to-

But then, I heard a proud squeal of joy. “Come here, my baby!” It was my mummy, Lady Penelope, in proud tears as I stumbled towards her. As I fell into her arms she swooped me up and cuddled me. “My dear little baby has taken her first steps!” she sobbed proudly, “Thank you, my dear friends.” Mr Happy gave a thumbs up. Mr Small started sobbing comically, and even Little Miss Tiny felt all the feels.

“I can’t imagine how those Mr Men would help my baby take her first steps,” smiled Lady Penelope as she sat next to Parker on the bench, me sitting on her lap.

“‘Er legs are getting stronger every day, milady,” smiled Parker, “And now, I think today might be the day.”

“I know, it’s her moment of triumph. Although…” Lady Penelope felt there was something missing. “I wish the rest of International Rescue were there to see it.”

Then, she saw Brains, Alan and Tin Tin playing football in the field nearby, and knew she would have the opportunity to introduce my new walking skills to them.

“Excuse me, my friends!” she called. Instantly, Alan, Brains and Tin Tin stopped playing their game and rushed over to me and my carers. “Look at how brave my baby has been,” Lady Penelope declared, “She has taken her first steps.”

Brains gasped. “Aaaaaaw,” smiled Tin Tin. “Well, what are you waiting for?” smiled Alan eagerly, “Come on, let us see her first steps!”

So Lady Penelope put me down onto the grass, and I cut loose with my new walking. My three friends couldn’t believe how well I’ve developed. Brains was close to tears, and Tin Tin squealed in pride.

For the rest of the day, we all played together while Lady Penelope watched on. For now, she could well think back to the days of her own childhood…

…when she was just a baby herself, learning to walk. She could hear her mother’s gasps of delight, and her father encouraging her gently as she stumbled all the way towards her mother’s arms.

…And just like that, she could feel me run back into her arms, wanting a soft, gentle cuddle.