The Toymaker

Once upon a time, in a far away county, there lived a toymaker who lived alone and was lonely. He longed for a child of his own to make his toys for but that would require having a wife. And he did not want a wife. He wanted a husband. So he continued, making toys day after day for other people's children, other people's families, knowing that he would always be alone.

But he still watched the men of the village, still saw a kind mouth, handsome face, sturdy hands...and sometimes, late at night when he was alone and done all of his work, he would carve the things he had seen.

Soon, he had a pile of them--heads, hands, arms, legs, torsos...and he thought, why not put them together? Why not make a husband for myself, if only a wooden one?

So, he wired the pieces together like a doll, with the best joints he could build--Johann's legs, Wat's body, Peter's hands, the innkeeper's face...until he had built a man. Perfect, for himself.

The town's seamstress suspected nothing when he ordered men's clothes, and why should she?

The toymaker knew it was foolish, to be modest about a naked doll, but they weren't that well acquainted yet. And the anatomy was detailed. Soon, the toymaker slept curled against the doll--sometimes holding it, sometimes having it hold him. He ate meals with the doll sitting across from him (after he built a second chair). He spoke to it, told it everything about himself.

He was careful not to let the townsfolk see the doll, and to still be as involved in the community as he ever had been, but they still noticed that he was happier, his toys grander and more complicated than ever.

One night, a woman passed through town, looking for a place to spend the night. The inn was full, so she was sent to the toymaker's. He gave her his bed for the night, and he
made her a hot meal. Being gifted with special powers, she wanted to thank him for the kindness he had shown. When she asked him how she could repay, he blushed slightly and said he had everything he needed.

She pretended to be very tired, and retired to his bedroom. She knew he wanted something, but not what. She saw a large object covered by a cloth. Pulling the cloth aside, she found a life sized wooden doll of a man. Looking more closely she recognized the face. She thought she understood.

She began to prepare for the spell. 'It won't quite be your heart's desire,' she thinks, 'but I hope that it will be enough and you will always thank me.'

With that, she completed the spell, and left, continuing her journey.

The next morning, the toymaker woke and knocked softly on his bedroom door. When there was no answer, he opened the door.

His doll was sitting on the bed. His first reaction was shame--what must she think of this? Quickly followed by anger--how dare she so abuse his hospitality!

Then he realized the doll looked...different. It no longer looked like wood, but...not entirely like skin. More like wood covered in leather. The joints were still there, but covered with the same leather so they were no longer bare.

And the eyes! The eyes had been simply painted wood. Now they look almost real, fine glass orbs that sparkled in the morning sun.

Part of him was ashamed that she had seen this, part is angry that she changed it, but he was also touched by the beauty she's added to the doll.

He heard a gentle creak. The doll was now looking at him. It hadn't been before.