I was not just mildly freaked about the many artificial eyes that turned into my direction when I entered the Toy store. Purring, mewing and barking robotic animals stared at me and started with the programmed pattern, blinking their eyes and lifting paws.

I needed a birthday present for a friend, so I grabbed the biggest teddy bear one could buy for money in ToysRus and fled that place again. Transporting said teddy in a box or a bag was just out of question: It was too big for that. So I simply stuffed it under an arm and carried it that way.

I might need to add that this bear was about half as tall as I and a true challenge to transport, especially during rush hour.

Or so I thought first.

But every person who saw me with that big light blue plushy started smiling, laughed, petted it when walking past or started to talk with their friends about the plush animals they got at home. Some asked me who it is for and others told me about some bears or other animals which had been given to them.

One guy even got up to give me his seat in the bus to set the bear down while we both stood next to it.

I never met that many smiling and happy people. And all thanks to a big fluffy bear made out of polyester and cotton stuffing.

I started the day stressed out, with a mood that can only be called genocidal. And gotten home relaxed and happy. Sadly though without the bear. After all he was a birthday present and with that not destined to travel farther with me.

I missed it on my way home, but I'm sure he's adding more smiles to his collection as we speak.

I guess that teddy collected more good karma in those few hours of traveling through the city than I could ever have in a life.

Sometimes it does not need a lot to make people smile for real.