• Doddly-Dod closed his eyes and let the memory come to him; his childhood voice already ringing in his ears.

    "Me? But, I-I'm just a kid! I thought you had to be old to own the Magic Hat!"
    His hands trembling, the young Doddly-Dod looked down at his hands. The Magic Hat felt warm resting in his tiny palms.

    A loud squeak sounded from up high, as a tall, thin man chuckled in his thin, little throat. His weary eyes fell upon the boy before him; he smiled.

    "My dear boy! Doddly-Dod Princeton, it is you time! Mrs. Cacklebox- Princeton, bless her, has left this world of living, along with the Hat. Which now, belongs to you!"

    Young Doddly-Dod shuffled his feet. Up high, many faces stared down at him. Some of them were smiling, others looked bored, yet the faces that showed the most were those who frowned as they watched him.

    Squirming in the spotlight, young Doddly-Dod glanced once again back at the hat in his hands. It was like the clouds had lifted! He no longer felt the cold eyes of the frowning people up high in the rafters! He could only feel the smiles...it was as if the hat itself was pouring happiness into his frightened bones!

    "The Magic Hat..." The young Doddly-Dod said. His fingers tingled as they touched the cloud-like fabric in his hands.

    "You must remember to be responsible--"

    "Never forget, the Magic Hat is to be worn by no one but yourself!"

    "Always keep it with you--"

    "Keep it somewhere safe and--"

    Voices rang about the room, boucing off the walls of the dimly lit room. As many of them as there were, none of them reached the young boy. His soft eyes gleaming with joy.

    "I can't wait!" He thought to himself. "The Magic Hat! I can't to see what's inside!"
    --

    Doddly-Dod opened his eyes. The dimly lit room was gone, and in its place came his bright toy store. Touching his head lightly, Doddly-Dod felt the cloud-like fabric of his dear Magic Hat. His fingers tingled, as he filled with warm, happy thoughts.

    :3 Copyright, Me. :3