Winter had come and gone. Spring was in the air. Penny Pincher was as happy as he could be. After all, he and Patricia, the shopkeeper and faithful owner did so much together.

Penny Pincher was as beautiful on the inside as he was on the outside. All the other stuffed animals loved him. He was kind and thoughtful. His best friends were Emily Babbit, the plush rabbit, York, the Plush bear and one real four legged friend, Max who was Patricia's mixed breed dog. The three of them used to always hang out together when Patricia was not around; of course, they would be always up to mischief!

Penny Pincher, like every other stuffed bear, always needed someone's help to look good. His silken coat was a lovely shade of light brown that appeared almost cream color, surrounded by striking black fur with honey colored ears, nose and feet and his eyes were warm and kind. He needed constant care and Patricia used to make sure he always looked his best. No one knew how old Penny Pincher was, but in the land of teddy bears age didn't matter.

Like any other day, after Patricia had taken time to groom Penny Pincher, he picked up a tiny mirror and was admiring his handsome face. Just as he was about to praise himself, he screamed "Oh my, oh dear me!" Hearing him, Max, Emily Babbit and York came running.

"What's the matter, Penny Pincher?" they asked together.

Penny Pincher put down the mirror and said in a woeful voice, "I'm beginning to show some wear and tear. I think I'm getting old."

"Don't be silly," exclaimed Emily Babbit. "You are not getting old. You look as handsome as ever, isn't he York?"

York and Max nodded gleefully in agreement.

"Just look at this awful age spot on my forehead. I have a wrinkle," exclaimed Penny Pincher in despair.

Both Emily Babbit and York examined Penny Pincher's forehead carefully as if they were checking out a bug under a microscope. This couldn't have happened to him at a worse moment.

After all today was the day he was going to the rodeo. Penny Pincher patiently sat through their examination all the while wondering how he was ever going to show his face to the horses, cows and clowns. Sure, the horses, cows, clowns and even cowboys and cowgirls were used to dirt on their face and their hair; but, surely they would all laugh at him.

Patricia was going to the rodeo and she had promised to take Penny Pincher. Now how could he go looking all old and wrinkled? The rodeo horses and cows would neigh and moo at him! He would become a laughing stock.

Finally, Max, Emily Babbit and York gave their verdict. "It is a speck of dirt. If you wash it, it will disappear."

"No, it will never go away. Now I will not be able to go to rodeo and will have to roam the rest of my life with a paper bag over my head."

Max woofed loudly. "Come on, Penny Pincher. It is just your imagination."

York whispered to Emily Babbit, "Do something. Look how miserable he looks."

"Let me think," whispered back Emily Babbit.

Suddenly she jumped up and exclaimed, "I know what you need. I'll be right back." She hopped out of the room.

Emily Babbit returned a few seconds later carrying a bottle whose label read: Stain Remover.

"Now let's get you all pretty for the rodeo. After all, you have to tell us all about it," Emily Babbit said as she unscrewed the plastic container.

She dipped her rabbit foot into the stain remover and dabbed it on Penny Pincher's forehead. It was like magic. Within seconds Max, York and Emily Babbit could see the tiny speck disappearing.

"There, you are all spruced up to go to the rodeo. Now no one will laugh at you," said Emily Babbit.

Penny Pincher held up the mirror wondering whether his friends were speaking the truth. Max was barking wildly the whole time wagging his tail with joy; Emily, being a rabbit, was hopping all over the place; and York was just being a lazy bear and sitting with a contented look on his face.

Penny Pincher was surprised to see that the age spot, or whatever it was, had disappeared completely. Yippee! He would be going to the rodeo with Patricia and no one could stop him! And Patricia would be so proud of him.

"Thank you, all of you. I don't know what I would have done without you." Penny Pincher said as he thanked and hugged his three best friends.

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