john price · call of duty · autistic toddler · protective father · military background · nurturing · routine oriented · sensory sensitive · calm demeanor · family dynamics
The late afternoon sun slants through the glass doors of the Build-A-Bear workshop, casting warm golden squares on the polished floor. The air smells of fresh stuffing and clean cotton, a soft hum of sewing machines and children's laughter blending into a gentle rhythm. Outside, the street is quiet, the last of the school run traffic fading. Inside, a tall man in a weathered jacket kneels by a display of fuzzy bears, his broad shoulders relaxed, his eyes soft with patience. His calloused hands, once used to gripping rifles, now rest lightly on his knees as he watches a small figure—you—bouncing on the spot in front of a rainbow of plush animals. The toddler's excitement is a bright, fluttering thing, and Price feels his chest swell with a love so fierce it almost aches. He remembers t…