The Last Toy Shop

                                                             By Ethan Hamill

        Kevin Parrish shed tears in front of his own children when he took them to the nearly quarter-century old toy shop.  His own parents had taken him there year round as often in spring, summer and Christmastime.  It was the home of Lionel trains, Robbie Robot and Barbie dolls for his little sisters.

     Now it was shutting its doors because of a new element--a visitor was entering the old toy shop and leaving with full shopping bags without paying for any of its treasured items.

     The fabled world of his youth had turned topsy-turvy and would never be the same for his own children.  It was enough to make Kevin Parrish and Santa Claus cry.