There once was a little girl who never played with matches. Her parents were pyrophobics, as was the rest of the village. For those who don’t know, that means an extreme fear of fire. The little girl, called Annie, lived in the wealthiest house of their independent nation. Her father was the lead pastor of a cult--like group in fear of the fire god, Tibicuse. The little girl being no more than six at the time could not say such a name, so at church she would say what she could, Tibbers. Her father's followers got nervous of young Annie, afraid she might upset their Deity, so they forced her out of the church.
To cheer her up her mother gave her a teddy bear and a new pink dress. “What are you going to call the bear?” Her mother asked.
“I dunno,” Annie slurred.
The children in the village no longer played with her. Their parents were afraid of her name for the God catching on with the little ones. So time went on, as she played alone talking with her bear. What Annie didn’t realize is Tibicuse is always listening, and Tibicuse felt pity for the poor girl. He took an almost father--like interest in the dark, lonely child. One day her father caught her talking to the bear.
“You treat that thing like an idol,” He said, “tonight at the cult meeting it will be burned in favor for your forgiveness.”
At this little Annie cracked, “I wish this whole town would burn!” She sputtered out. Now at that moment, Tibicuse was in the bear listening to Annie, as always, and he felt through her burning hug she meant that wish, and at that second Tibicuse grew bigger than the little girl and burned down that little village in the middle of nowhere. Annie watched, terrified but pleased as the world around her turned crimson red in blood and flames.
When the last flicker of flame went out she called out into the darkness, “Has anyone seen my bear?” She wandered around the demolished city to find her little teddy covered in ashes, in a pile of debris. She picked him up in a swift swoop, “I think i’ll call you Tibbers.”
ns 15.158.61.5da2
