"Aaah! Let go of me, pom! Or this conductor is going to get angry, pom!"
Pom-Pom squirmed, trying to escape the little girl's suffocating embrace.
"Ah! Sorry."
Seeing the unfamiliar Jumpy Dumpty struggling so fiercely in her arms, Klee quickly let go and apologized.
The moment Pom-Pom's feet touched the floor, he scurried behind Welt as though a huge monster were chasing him. Only after grabbing Welt's calf and hiding behind him did he breathe a sigh of relief.
"Sorry, sorry!"
Realizing that she had frightened "Jumpy Dumpty," Klee looked ashamed. She lowered her head sheepishly and apologized again.
"I just thought you looked so fluffy and cute. Klee only wanted to make friends with a Jumpy Dumpty she hadn't met before. I didn't mean to scare you."
"Klee really isn't a bad person. Um, Klee will let you pet Dodoco, so please don't hate me."
Pom-Pom watched the little girl take the plush toy off her backpack, patter over to Welt, and carefully offer it to him where he hid behind Welt.
Pom-Pom knew this little girl named Klee was trying to make peace, but he hadn't gotten over his anger yet. Besides, looking at the fluffy white rabbit plush that clearly felt wonderful to touch, he somehow found himself equating it with himself.
"Honestly, pom! I'm not some little girl's stuffed toy, pom! Even if you let me pet this doll called Dodoco, it won't soothe this conductor's wounded heart, pom!"
Hmph!
Pom-Pom hopped angrily in place, then turned his head away, refusing to acknowledge Klee.
"No, no! Klee wasn't treating you like a toy."
Klee shook her head in denial. Holding Dodoco in her hands, she earnestly explained to Pom-Pom, "Dodoco was Klee's very first friend, and is also her best friend. Mommy gave Dodoco to Klee