Life got loud enough that both Layla and Levi could hear.
And it was hard to hear. Levi got good at catching Layla's tears and wiping them away.
Levi the Leopard #6
All in all, Levi lived in the bliss of Layla's embrace and Layla was comforted by his company...
All in all, Levi lived in the bliss of Layla’s embrace and Layla was comforted by his company. But his alert leopard ears and his eyes that never closed saw and heard everything. And it was not all good…
Levi the Leopard #5
They were best of friends...
They were best of friends. They had tea parties every day and Layla would tell Levi the Leopard all her secrets. He was a good listener. Layla would read to him and he learned about a world outside the toy store. He didn't realize that these would be memories that would keep him alive.
Levi the Leopard #4
Here he is as I found him.
Levi was a broken and torn stuffed animal I found when they bull dozed what I knew as Hobo Jungle on West Commercial Street a few years ago. Here he is as I found him.
On Layla's seventh birthday...
On Layla's seventh birthday she was given the rare opportunity to choose any toy at all from the toy store. Any toy at all. Instead she chose Levi, the Leopard. It was love at first sight.
Levi the Leopard #3
Levi the Leopard began his journey at a local toy store.
Levi the Leopard began his journey at a local toy store. He stood out with his distinct markings and long spotted tail. Even though his fur was soft as a pussywillow his legs were strong as springs. His body stuffed with just the right amount of filling to be strong but huggable. His ears stood up and were alert to every sound. Levi was a good listener.
All seemed well enough in his world in the company of his toy shelf friends.
Then one day a little girl named Layla walked in on her seventh birthday...and Levi's life was about to begin again.
Levi the Leopard #2
This is Levi the Leopard. He wasn't always like this...
This is Levi the Leopard. He wasn't always like this. He didn't always have a torn off ear. Or fur scraped down to nothing leaving patches of bald spots. At one time he had two handsome black eyes. His filling wasn't always sprouting out and the stitches that created his mouth once held a shiny nose in place. That's long gone. His spots have faded and his tail shortened and drooped. But here he is. He remains.
And how he got here is the story....
Levi the Leopard #1