RDD 42

Chapter 42

Toys R Us was a famous company that sells, well, toys. They have branches all over America and of course in the Philippines too. 

Unfortunately, they filed for bankruptcy in 2018 after losing the competition against other companies. After years of intense price competition from mass retailers Walmart, Amazon, and Target. They lost the battle. 

In my opinion, the reason why they lost was that they didn't diversify. They should have followed the trend and entered the internet and sell their products by creating a website. I don't know if that was possible considering that I'm not part of the management. But it was obvious that people prefer buying online instead of entering stores. 

'Just like Blockbuster...'

Well, fuck that company. Renting videotapes and CDs is a fucking hassle. I'm happy that Netflix murdered that company. 

'Can't you imagine? The owner of Netflix tried to sell the company to Blockbuster but Blockbuster laughed it off instead. Hah! Serves them right.'

Well, movie piracy was strong in the Philippines and we didn't like Blockbuster at all. 

Even I prefer buying pirated movies than buying the original, it was far cheaper. 

I chuckled for unknown reasons when we entered the store. 

Just as I expected, what you will see inside a Toys store are toys... Duh. 

Roman and Sophia were clearly excited as they looked at the toys that were displayed all around. 

"Honey, I will take Sophia to the girls' section. Please take care of Roman." Penelope carried the excited Sophia to the other side of the store where girly and pinky things were glamorous. 

"Don't worry Honey." 

Then, I turned my focus on my son who was drooling all over the giant Gundams... Gulped.

Indeed, even I was drooling. 

'Is that from the Gundam Seed?' 

My memories were quite a blur, the last time I watched Gundam Seed was when I was 3 years old. I'm talking about my other past. 

"Dad..." Roman looked at me. 

Unfortunately, I shook my head. This Gundam was a meter tall and it would be troublesome to buy it and take it to Manila. We are going to use a public bus after all. 

"We can buy it in Manila. You have to understand that it will be hard to take it to Manila. Even carrying it would be a problem. Do you think you can carry it?"

I can buy an Energy Pill and carry it. However, the space inside the bus would be problematic even if I can carry it. 

"Yes..." He reluctantly nodded his head and looked around instead. 

"Let's find another toy, something that we can carry with no problem. Besides, you promise your cousins that you will give them toys."

"Okay, Dad!" 

He became energetic after he remembered his promise. 

I followed my son into the stalls that has hundreds if not thousands of variety of toys. 

I even saw Superman and Batman costumes. The year was still 1999 and the first Spider-Man movie would be released in 2002. Kids still prefer Batman and Superman over Spider-Man and any other Marvel heroes. 

"Dad, I think I know what present I will give to them."

I followed his gaze and found a classic toy. 

'Ah, Yo-yo...'

We definitely like Yo-yo in the Philippines. There's no boy who hasn't touched Yo-yo in their entire life unless they were born after 2010. 

Because I tell you, in my Elementary days, Yo-yo was really famous. 

"Are you sure you know how to play Yo-yo? You're still five, you're much shorter than the whole height of Yo-yo."

"Dad... I hate you." 

'Hey, don't look at me with a cold gaze. Kinda alarming.'

"Okay fine, I will buy... ten pieces of Yo-yos."

If I'm not being wrong, we have seven boys living in the house. 

"What about you Dad? Do you even know how to play Yo-yo?" He smirked.

I rubbed his hair with a bit of force. 

"Kid, you're still young. You don't know that I can play tricks using Yo-yo."

"Really? Like what?"

"I know how to play 'around the world' and 'walking the dog'. 

"Dad, are you just making this stuff?" 

"..."

This kid. He clearly doesn't know how to play Yo-yo.

Anyway, with my son's cold gaze, I decided to buy ten Yo-yos. 

Furthermore, Roman urged me to buy a lightsaber and Rayban sunglasses from 'The Matrix'. 

It seemed that 'Toys R Us' was promoting these movies. 

I almost choked laughing seeing Roman wearing sunglasses while holding a glowing lightsaber. 

"Do you even know what 'The Matrix' is?"

"No," Roman shook his head. "But I saw other kids wearing sunglasses and black leather jackets."

"Indeed." 

As for Star Wars, the influence of this franchise was not that strong but there were still avid fans who would watch and support it. 

'They don't know that 20 years later, Disney will fuck-up Star Wars just to earn profit from the fans.'

I feel bad for those people. 

'Fuck Disney. They are forcing kids to accept their ideologies with their so-called 'children movies'.

Even Pixar was getting 'liberated'. Their last movie was about a girl twerking on her mother. The fuck?

The hardest things was that Disney and Pixar were earning money even though their movies were bad. 

While waiting for Sophia and Penelope, Roman decided to swing around his lightsaber. 

"Roman don't do something bad. You might hurt your self."

"Okay Dad."