Cobalt's Quest for Jeans

           It was a lazy summer afternoon for the toys in Coltyne’s room.  Their owner, Coltyne, was away at summer camp for the week.  Most of the toys were keeping busy with games and other things.  Everyone seemed happy, except for one.  Cobalt the robot was having a personal crisis.

            Cobalt was sitting in the corner holding a picture of a boy wearing jeans and a t-shirt.  Suddenly Cobalt the Robot exclaimed, “I’m tired of running around naked.  I want clothes especially a pair of really cool jeans.”

            An action figure that was playing nearby looked at Cobalt and said, “What does a robot need with clothes?  You’re not supposed to wear clothes.”

            “You get to have a cool uniform.  I just want to have something besides my plain outside,” replied Cobalt.

            The action figure responded, “Maybe some of Coltyne’s sister’s dolls will let you have some clothes.”

            Cobalt liked that idea and set off for Coltyne’s sister’s room.  Fortunately, Coltyne’s sister was downstairs watching TV.  Cobalt slowly opened the door and walked cautiously over to the dollhouse.

            “Excuse me,” said Cobalt, “I was wondering if maybe you had some clothes I could wear.”

            A doll with dark brown eyes and black hair walked up to Cobalt and laughed, “What does a robot need with clothes?”
             Embarrassed, Cobalt responded, “I just want something to wear besides my plain outside.”

            The doll rolled her eyes and shouted to the other dolls, “Hey, do you guys think we have anything that will fit this robot?”

            Another doll with blue eyes and blond hair walked up with a shirt and pair of pants in her hands.  Cobalt smiled at the doll.  These clothes looked promising, but when he tried to put his leg into the pants they didn’t fit over his feet.  The shirt also wouldn’t go over his head.  Disgusted, Cobalt turned and left Coltyne’s sister’s room.

            He wasn’t ready to give up his quest just yet, so he sneaked down the stairs and into the empty kitchen.  A salt shaker in the shape of a chef greeted him as he entered, “Good afternoon, what brings you to the kitchen?”

            “I’m trying to find something to wear.  I tried to put on some doll clothes, but they didn’t fit.  I just want something on instead of my plain outside,” stated Cobalt.  “What I really want is a cool pair of jeans.”

            “Well, maybe you can make some clothes,” suggested the salt shaker.  “That way you will know they fit.”

             “Good idea,” replied Cobalt regaining some hope.  “What do you suggest I use?”

            “Let’s see,” thought the salt shaker.  “For jeans you will need to find something that is long and kind of stretchy.  I think there are some banana peels in the trash.  They are really long.  They might work.”

            Cobalt went over to the trash can and climbed up to the top.  It smelled horrible, but sure enough, there on the top were two banana peels.  He carefully crawled down the side, grabbed the banana peels, and quickly climbed out.  Once he was back on the floor, he carefully spread out the banana peels and inspected them.  This just might work.  He stepped on the connected top of the banana peels and spread the flaps of the peels up his legs.  The banana peels stuck to his legs as he smoothed them out.  They came all the way up to his waist.  He thought maybe he had succeeded until he saw his reflection in the toaster.   He looked ridiculous.  Disgusted he threw the banana peels back in the trash.  Feeling defeated, a sticky, smelly Cobalt made his way back up the stairs to Coltyne’s room.

            Once back in the room Cobalt slumped into a corner.  A toy orca made his way over to Cobalt and sat beside him.  When the orca gave him a questioning look, Cobalt replied, “Don’t ask.”

            “I heard you talking earlier about wanting clothes,” said the orca.  “I guess your search didn’t go well.”

            Cobalt just groaned.

            “You know, if I tried to put on clothes I would look ridiculous, too,” stated the orca, “but Coltyne plays with me just the way I am.  You are one of Coltyne’s favorite toys.  He doesn’t care whether or not you have clothes.  He likes you just the way you are.”

            Cobalt thought about what the orca had said.  He knew Coltyne didn’t care whether or not he had clothes.  Maybe he shouldn’t either.

            “You’re right,” sighed Cobalt.  “I looked totally ridiculous with clothes on.  I guess if Coltyne plays with me, I should be okay with that.”

            “Maybe you should go to the bathroom and wash off.  You smell horrible,” said the orca wrinkling up his nose.

            Cobalt grinned and trekked off to the bathroom to wash.